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Jules Bianchi seriously hurt at Japan Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton wins Jules Bianchi seriously hurt at Japan Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton wins
(about 1 hour later)
The Marussia driver Jules Bianchi has been seriously injured in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix after appearing to strike a vehicle attending another accident on the track. The race was won by Lewis Hamilton with only 47 of the scheduled 53 laps possible following a red-flag after Bianchi’s crash. The Marussia driver Jules Bianchi has been seriously injured in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix after his car appeared to strike a vehicle attending another accident on the track. The race was won by Lewis Hamilton with only 47 of the scheduled 53 laps possible following a red-flag after Bianchi’s crash.
Adrian Sutil had gone off on lap 43 and marshals were attending his car with a crane standing at the side of the track. Bianchi appears to have gone off at the same corner and reportedly impacted with the recovery vehicle. He was taken to the medical centre for treatment. Sutil, who drives for Sauber, is understood to be unhurt. Bianchi was then taken to hospital. Adrian Sutil had gone off on lap 43 and marshals were attending his car with a crane standing at the side of the track. Bianchi, 25, appeared to go off at the same corner and reportedly ran into the recovery vehicle. He was taken to the medical centre for treatment and then to hospital. Sutil, who drives for Sauber, is understood to be unhurt.
Despite escaping the worst of the incoming typhoon Phanfone, the race started behind the safety car due to heavy rain and began properly on lap 10 as the track dried. The rain returned in the latter stages, presenting very tricky conditions and it is this period that proved crucial in the accident. Sutil went wide and hit the barriers but it is unclear at this stage when the French driver followed him into the accident area. It appears to be after the marshals were attending to Sutil’s car. Despite escaping the worst of the incoming typhoon Phanfone, the race started behind the safety car due to heavy rain and began properly on lap 10 as the track dried. The rain returned in the latter stages, creating very tricky conditions and it is this period that proved crucial in the accident. Sutil went wide and hit the barriers but it is unclear at this stage when Bianchi followed him into the accident area. It seemed to be after the marshals were attending to Sutil’s car.
Celebrations were understandably muted for Hamilton who took a 10 point championship lead over his rival Nico Rosberg, . The later struggled with grip and understeer and could manage only second place. Sebastian Vettel, who announced this weekend he was leaving Red Bull, and his team-mate, Daniel Ricciardo, were the beneficiaries of a piece of masterful strategy by the team, having run qualifying in the dry with a wet-race set-up. When the rain duly came their car had a clear advantage over their rivals. They finished third and fourth respectively. Celebrations were understandably muted for Hamilton, who took a 10-point championship lead over his rival Nico Rosberg. The German driver had struggled with grip and understeer and finished second after starting on pole position.
Form the off it had been a trying afternoon and while there were doubts there would be no race due to poor conditions were dispelled. There will now be questions over whether it should have been held or why it was not brought forward to an earlier start time. The latter option was offered by the FIA to race promoters Honda, who declined to do so. Sebastian Vettel, who announced this weekend he was leaving Red Bull, and his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo were the beneficiaries of a piece of masterful strategy by the team, having run qualifying in the dry with a wet race set-up. When the rain duly came the Red Bull cars had a clear advantage over their rivals. They finished third and fourth respectively.
Niki Lauda, who withdrew from the championship-deciding Japanese Grand Prix in Fuji in 1976 because he considered the weather conditions were too dangerous, believed the rain was not the problem. “In the end the rain was not the real issue of the race,” he said. “There were safety cars put in and the race was run safe more or less to the end so it could have been run to the end without the accident. From the off it had been a trying afternoon but doubts that the race would take place because of the poor conditions were dispelled. However, there will now be questions over whether it should have been held and why the start time was not brought forward. The latter option was offered by the FIA but the race promoters Honda declined to do so.
Nor did he think the late delays due to rain that saw the end of the race taking place in increasingly dim light conditions was at fault. “The darkness I don’t think was an issue here,” he said. “Motor racing is dangerous. We get used to it if nothing happens and then suddenly we’re all surprised. Niki Lauda, who withdrew from the championship-deciding Japanese Grand Prix in Fuji in 1976 because he considered the weather conditions too dangerous, believed the rain was not the problem. “In the end the rain was not the real issue of the race,” he said. “There were safety cars put in and the race was run safe more or less to the end so it could have been run to the end without the accident.”
In addition he did not think the late delays due to rain that saw the end of the race taking place in increasingly dim light conditions was at fault. “The darkness I don’t think was an issue here,” he said. “Motor racing is dangerous. We get used to it if nothing happens and then suddenly we’re all surprised.
“But we always have to be aware that motor racing is very dangerous and this accident today is the coming together of various difficult things. One car goes off, the truck comes out and then the next car goes off. It was very unfortunate.”“But we always have to be aware that motor racing is very dangerous and this accident today is the coming together of various difficult things. One car goes off, the truck comes out and then the next car goes off. It was very unfortunate.”
The rain, which had been persistent for most of the day had dropped off thirty minutes before the start but with ten minutes to go the heavens opened and a start behind the safety car was quickly announced. With all the teams heading out in the full wet tyres. The conditions at the start were treacherous and the visibility terrible. Hamilton radioed his crew to tell then he could not see Rosberg in front and before they had completed two laps the race was red-flagged and the cars returned to the pit lane. The downpour eased however and the cars returned to the track again behind the safety car. The rain, which had been persistent for most of the day had eased off 30 minutes before the start. Then with 10 minutes to go the heavens opened and a start behind the safety car was quickly announced, with all the teams heading out in full wet tyres. The conditions at the start were treacherous and the visibility terrible. Hamilton radioed his crew to tell them he could not see Rosberg in front and before they had completed two laps the race was red-flagged and the cars returned to the pit lane. The downpour eased however and the cars returned to the track again behind the safety car.
By lap six many drivers were happy with the conditions and making calls for the racing to begin. Hamilton directed his radio message direct to race director Charlie Whiting, saying: “Charlie, the track is fine, we’ve already done two more laps, the track is good”. It remained out however and by lap nine some drivers including Button considered the conditions closet to suiting the inter tyres. When racing began he duly took them at the restart and it was the right choice. The advantage it gave him paid off and he finished in fifth. By lap six many drivers were happy with the conditions and making calls for the racing to begin. Hamilton directed his radio message to race director Charlie Whiting, saying: “Charlie, the track is fine, we’ve already done two more laps, the track is good.” But the safety car remained out and by lap nine some drivers including Button considered the conditions closer to suiting the intermediate tyres. When racing began Button duly took them at the restart and it was the right choice. The advantage it gave him paid off and he finished fifth.
Visibility and grip had improved enough by lap 25 to enable DRS and Hamilton immediately closed on his team-mate, and had a look into turn one although he could not make it stick and a lap later pushing again he went wide at turn one as he had done in practice. This time however he kept it out of the wall. Visibility and grip had improved enough by lap 25 to enable DRS and Hamilton immediately closed on his team-mate. He had a look to overtake Rosberg going into turn one but was unable to do so. A lap later Hamilton pushed again, moving out wide at turn one as he had done in practice, only this time he kept it out of the wall.
On lap 29 Hamilton finally made it stick, coming out of the start finish straight DRS zone he went round the outside at turn one, clearly enjoying more grip than his team-mate who had gone defensive on the inside. That Hamilton had more pace was clear as he put a remarkable 4.8 seconds on Rosberg within two laps. On lap 29 Hamilton finally pulled ahead of Rosberg, coming out of the start-finish straight DRS zone he went round the outside at turn one, clearly enjoying more grip than his team-mate who had gone defensive on the inside. That Hamilton had more pace was clear as he moved a remarkable 4.8 seconds clear of Rosberg within two laps. It was enough to ensure his victory.
It was enough to ensure the win. “We hope Bianchi’s OK,” said Hamilton. “In terms of feeling, the race was really reminiscent of Silverstone in 2008,” where he had won in the wet in his championship-winning year. Afterwards Hamilton said: “We hope Bianchi’s OK.” Turning to the race he added: “In terms of feeling, the race was really reminiscent of Silverstone in 2008.” That was where he had won in the wet in his championship-winning year.
The Williams pair of Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas struggled in the wet as their car has all season and could only convert third and fourth on the grid to fifth and sixth. They were followed home in the points positions by Nico Hülkenberg, Jean-Éric Vergne and Sergio Pérez. Fernando Alonso’s difficult weekend became even worse when was forced to retire after losing power due to an electrical problem just four corners into the third lap. His team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was in twelfth, behind Daniil Kvyat who will take Vettel’s place at Red Bull next season. The Williams drivers Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas struggled in the wet as the team’s car has all season and could only convert third and fourth on the grid to fifth and sixth. They were followed home in the points positions by Nico Hülkenberg, Jean-Éric Vergne and Sergio Pérez. Fernando Alonso’s difficult weekend became even worse when he was forced to retire after losing power due to an electrical problem just four corners into the third lap. His team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was in 12th, behind Daniil Kvyat who will take Vettel’s place at Red Bull next season.