Drivers reflect a decade on from Bianchi accident

There was a sense of reflection at Suzuka during the Japanese Grand Prix marking a decade on since Jules Bianchi had his tragic accident in 2014.

In extremely wet conditions Bianchi lost control of his Marussia and suffered a serious accident in the closing laps of the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.

Sadly the promising French driver passed away in the July of 2015 from the injuries sustained on that dark and gloomy October day.

Although the 2024 race is now being held in the untraditional April window, it marks a decade on since Bianchi’s traffic accident.

Of the current grid, the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo, Nico Hulkenberg, Kevin Magnussen, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas raced alongside Bianchi in 2014, while Max Verstappen made his Free Practice debut during that weekend for Toro Rosso.

But the driver who was closest to Bianchi was current Ferrari star Charles Leclerc, whose godfather was Bianchi.

Both the Leclerc and Bianchi families are very close with the Frenchman being a massive mentor in the Monegasque’s journey to the pinnacle of motorsport.

Charles Leclerc’s Jules Bianchi tribute helmet.

To mark the anniversary, Leclerc ran a special tribute helmet, based on the design Bianchi used in 2014 with his now retired #17.

Leclerc, who raced his way up to fourth with an impressive drive on a bold one-stop strategy, said Bianchi is always in his mind when racing around Suzuka.

“Of course it’s a very special place, and whenever I get here I have somewhere in my mind Jules,” Leclerc told AUTOSPORT pre race..

“I obviously think about Jules very often, because he’s been the person that helped me to get there.

“Back in 2010 already he has spoken to Nicolas (Todt) my manager, in order for me to be supported to get to F1. And he’s been the game changer in my career.

“Before that, we have always been extremely, extremely close, and both of our families are still always very close.

“It’s a very special place to be here and of course, as always, he’s always in my heart.”

Fellow Frenchman Pierre Gasly said Bianchi was an inspiration and believed the Marussia driver would have raced for Ferrari one day.

“I think definitely Jules will always be remembered for who he was. Obviously as a driver, but also just as a human being,” the Alpine driver said. 

“He was extremely kind and an example for a lot of drivers, but especially in France. 

“I remember when we were in the French team, all young drivers with Anthoine (Hubert), Esteban (Ocon) and many other young kids that we obviously looked up to him as the next big thing in Formula 1 because everyone, I think, agrees that he would eventually make it to Ferrari. 

“It’s definitely very, very sad to remember what’s happened and I’m glad he left his mark in Formula 1 and also beyond it. 

“It will definitely be always remembered.”

Japanese Grand Prix winner Max Verstappen said it was nice Bianchi’s name lives in on in a variety of ways within motorsport.

“Personally, of course, I didn’t really know Jules that well, but we all have friends in common that did,” Verstappen said. 

“He was, of course, incredibly talented and for sure would have achieved incredible things in Formula 1. I think everyone was pretty sure about that. 

“I think it was a very bad day for everyone in the sport, of course. 

“But I think we also, again, learned a lot about safety that day. “Unfortunately, it seems like sometimes these kind of things need to happen for safety to improve and it’s, of course, not what you like to see, but that’s how it seems to work in life. 

“Its nice that he will always be remembered. There are things in his name, charities, like the go-kart races his dad also still organises to always remember his name because he definitely deserves that.”

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