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Jules Bianchi ‘critical but stable’ as the FIA asks for report on Japanese GP Jules Bianchi ‘critical but stable’ as the FIA asks for report on Japanese GP
(about 1 hour later)
Jules Bianchi remained in a critical condition in hospital in Japan on Monday following surgery after his terrible accident at the Japanese Grand Prix.Jules Bianchi remained in a critical condition in hospital in Japan on Monday following surgery after his terrible accident at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Bianchi’s team, Marussia, issued a statement acknowledging the support he has received and stating that any further medical updates would be issued in accordance with the wishes of his family.Bianchi’s team, Marussia, issued a statement acknowledging the support he has received and stating that any further medical updates would be issued in accordance with the wishes of his family.
The FIA, the sport’s governing body, issued a statement of its own, saying Bianchi was “critical but stable” at Mie general medical centre in Yokkaichi. The driver’s family are expected to see him on Tuesday after being delayed due to typhoon Phanfone.The FIA, the sport’s governing body, issued a statement of its own, saying Bianchi was “critical but stable” at Mie general medical centre in Yokkaichi. The driver’s family are expected to see him on Tuesday after being delayed due to typhoon Phanfone.
An FIA spokesperson also said that the body’s president, Jean Todt, had asked the Formula One race director, Charlie Whiting, to “carry out a report on the precise circumstances which led to the accident”.An FIA spokesperson also said that the body’s president, Jean Todt, had asked the Formula One race director, Charlie Whiting, to “carry out a report on the precise circumstances which led to the accident”.
There was no further comment on the circumstances of the accident from the Japanese race promoters on Monday, but Derek Warwick, a former driver and the president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club which runs Silverstone and promotes the British Grand Prix, questioned the decisions made around the race and said he believes Formula One must analyse what happened.There was no further comment on the circumstances of the accident from the Japanese race promoters on Monday, but Derek Warwick, a former driver and the president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club which runs Silverstone and promotes the British Grand Prix, questioned the decisions made around the race and said he believes Formula One must analyse what happened.
Marussia’s statement read: “Following the accident involving Jules Bianchi during yesterday’s 2014 Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit, the Marussia F1 team would like to acknowledge the huge outpouring of support and affection for Jules and the team at this very difficult time. With regard to the communication of information concerning Jules’ medical condition, we will respect, and be guided by, the wishes of the Bianchi family. Together with Jules’ care, they will remain our highest priority.”Marussia’s statement read: “Following the accident involving Jules Bianchi during yesterday’s 2014 Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit, the Marussia F1 team would like to acknowledge the huge outpouring of support and affection for Jules and the team at this very difficult time. With regard to the communication of information concerning Jules’ medical condition, we will respect, and be guided by, the wishes of the Bianchi family. Together with Jules’ care, they will remain our highest priority.”
The driver hit a recovery vehicle which was removing Adrian Sutil’s stricken Sauber in heavy rain and fading light at the race which had been threatened by a typhoon and was delayed due to the poor conditions, leading to it concluding at dusk. There had been no safety car deployed for Sutil’s accident and discussions about bringing the race forward came to nothing.The driver hit a recovery vehicle which was removing Adrian Sutil’s stricken Sauber in heavy rain and fading light at the race which had been threatened by a typhoon and was delayed due to the poor conditions, leading to it concluding at dusk. There had been no safety car deployed for Sutil’s accident and discussions about bringing the race forward came to nothing.
Warwick, who raced for a variety of teams in Formula One, including Bernie Ecclestone’s Brabham in 1986, believes some of these issues need addressing. “First of all let’s hope Jules has a full recovery,” he said. “We must not lose sight of the fact we have an injured driver.Warwick, who raced for a variety of teams in Formula One, including Bernie Ecclestone’s Brabham in 1986, believes some of these issues need addressing. “First of all let’s hope Jules has a full recovery,” he said. “We must not lose sight of the fact we have an injured driver.
“But it’s quite ridiculous, they – the FIA, Bernie, Charlie Whiting, the promoters, the circuit operators – knew this weather was coming, they knew they were going to struggle for light and I question why, on the Saturday, when they could inform people, they did not bring the race forward.” “But it’s quite ridiculous. They – the FIA, Bernie, Charlie Whiting, the promoters, the circuit operators – knew this weather was coming, they knew they were going to struggle for light and I question why, on the Saturday, when they could inform people, they did not bring the race forward.”
Asked whether the FIA and Ecclestone could have insisted the race should have started earlier, he said: “Absolutely. If the FIA and Bernie came to any circuit and said they wanted the race to run one hour early and gave the reasons why, I think the circuit would bow down to that pressure.”Asked whether the FIA and Ecclestone could have insisted the race should have started earlier, he said: “Absolutely. If the FIA and Bernie came to any circuit and said they wanted the race to run one hour early and gave the reasons why, I think the circuit would bow down to that pressure.”
He pointed out that an earlier start could have caused difficulties for broadcasters. “A lot of TV stations have booked satellite time … Some of the TV stations could not rebook their satellite times to show the race if it was brought forward.He pointed out that an earlier start could have caused difficulties for broadcasters. “A lot of TV stations have booked satellite time … Some of the TV stations could not rebook their satellite times to show the race if it was brought forward.
“These starts are delayed to help the viewers in European countries but on the other side they have made their timing tolerances very tight.”“These starts are delayed to help the viewers in European countries but on the other side they have made their timing tolerances very tight.”
This convenience for the European audience may be expected to change, he said. “Somewhere like Japan where they have a light issue by the end of the race, I think you will see that from now on they will start those races a little bit earlier.”This convenience for the European audience may be expected to change, he said. “Somewhere like Japan where they have a light issue by the end of the race, I think you will see that from now on they will start those races a little bit earlier.”
As might other aspects of track side operations. One of the reasons for the seriousness of the accident was that Bianchi hit a recovery vehicle with a high clearance above the ground underneath which his car impacted. As may other aspects of track side operations. One of the reasons for the seriousness of the accident was that Bianchi hit a recovery vehicle with a high clearance above the ground, beneath which the impact occurred.
“The recovery vehicle always goes out when there is an accident if a crane cannot be positioned there. The preference is always for a crane. Having a recovery vehicle on the track is not ideal,” Warwick said. “Should there be a bigger push in areas like that for it to be compulsory to have cranes in position and not recovery vehicles? Of course. And it’s something that needs to be looked at.”“The recovery vehicle always goes out when there is an accident if a crane cannot be positioned there. The preference is always for a crane. Having a recovery vehicle on the track is not ideal,” Warwick said. “Should there be a bigger push in areas like that for it to be compulsory to have cranes in position and not recovery vehicles? Of course. And it’s something that needs to be looked at.”
The late deployment of the safety car was a far more complex issue however. The situation was highly unusual and Whiting and his team decide on a race-by-race basis about its use.The late deployment of the safety car was a far more complex issue however. The situation was highly unusual and Whiting and his team decide on a race-by-race basis about its use.
“With hindsight, of course it should have been a safety car,” Warwick said. “But if every time a recovery vehicle is on track we bring out a safety car there would be uproar within F1.“With hindsight, of course it should have been a safety car,” Warwick said. “But if every time a recovery vehicle is on track we bring out a safety car there would be uproar within F1.
“Let’s not get too carried away, it was a one-off. You will always have these extraordinary situations and we have to be careful not to make knee-jerk responses to them. I don’t think we can blame anybody. “Let’s not get too carried away, it was a one-off. You will always have these extraordinary situations and we have to be careful not to make kneejerk responses to them. I don’t think we can blame anybody.
“If everybody wants a safety car out every time a snatch vehicle is put out, then fine we can work with that. But I don’t think it is necessary, it’s better to let people like Charlie and his team make the decision. Will he get it right every time? Probably not, but my vote will always be for the professionals to make the decision at the time.”“If everybody wants a safety car out every time a snatch vehicle is put out, then fine we can work with that. But I don’t think it is necessary, it’s better to let people like Charlie and his team make the decision. Will he get it right every time? Probably not, but my vote will always be for the professionals to make the decision at the time.”