On Saturday morning, we awoke to the saddening news that Formula 1 driver, Jules Bianchi, had finally succumbed to his injuries obtained at last year’s Japanese Grand Prix.
In the wake of the news, the whole of motorsport has rallied to the side of Jules’ family and friends with teams and drivers the world over publicly displaying their grief and support. Bianchi is the first Formula 1 driver since Ayrton Senna to lose their life from injuries obtained at a Grand Prix. But whilst Ayrton had already established himself as an all time great, Jules was merely at the beginning of what was starting to look like the emergence of an F1 ace. His contribution to the Marussia team was immense with his mature and assured drive securing10th position and a point, Marussia’s first in Formula 1, at the 2014 Monaco GP. His talents however were not limited to racing cars for he was widely recognised as one of the sports true gentleman. Softly spoken, polite and cultured, he offered a great deal to the paddock and indeed to the wider tapestry of motorsport. Whilst the loss of someone so talented and so young is tragic, we hope that those close to Jules Bianchi will be comforted by the fact that he died doing something he truly loved.
In a coma since the accident, Jules is now in a better place, and knowing his talent, he will have taken the quickest line to get there. RIP Jules, you will be remembered.
Cog Lfe 