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| Jules Bianchi: Formula 1 bids farewell at driver's funeral | Jules Bianchi: Formula 1 bids farewell at driver's funeral |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The world of motorsport has bid farewell to French Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi at his funeral in his hometown of Nice. | The world of motorsport has bid farewell to French Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi at his funeral in his hometown of Nice. |
| World champion Lewis Hamilton and many of Bianchi's colleagues joined family and friends at a service in the city's cathedral while fans gathered outside. | World champion Lewis Hamilton and many of Bianchi's colleagues joined family and friends at a service in the city's cathedral while fans gathered outside. |
| The 25-year-old died on Friday from head injuries he sustained in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. | The 25-year-old died on Friday from head injuries he sustained in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. |
| His car number, 17, is being retired from F1 in his honour. | His car number, 17, is being retired from F1 in his honour. |
| Bianchi had been in a coma since crashing his Marussia car into a recovery vehicle at a rain-hit race last October. | Bianchi had been in a coma since crashing his Marussia car into a recovery vehicle at a rain-hit race last October. |
| He is the first F1 driver to die from injuries sustained in a grand prix since Brazilian triple world champion Ayrton Senna was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994. | He is the first F1 driver to die from injuries sustained in a grand prix since Brazilian triple world champion Ayrton Senna was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994. |
| Tributes are expected to be paid at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend. | Tributes are expected to be paid at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend. |
| A number of Formula 1 colleagues travelled to Nice to pay their respects on Tuesday. Large posters of Bianchi were draped outside the cathedral entrance. | A number of Formula 1 colleagues travelled to Nice to pay their respects on Tuesday. Large posters of Bianchi were draped outside the cathedral entrance. |
| Sebastian Vettel, the four-time world champion, and F1 Lotus driver and fellow Frenchman Romain Grosjean helped carry Bianchi's coffin after the service. | |
| Other drivers attending included Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa, and Olivier Panis. | Other drivers attending included Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa, and Olivier Panis. |
| The Eagles' 1970s anthem Hotel California played in the background as the proceedings got under way earlier in Nice, according to AFP news agency. | |
| The cathedral priest, Father Sylvain Brison Mourners, told the congregation that Bianchi was "a champion blessed with a rare talent", and mourners applauded the late driver for several minutes. | |
| 'Real fighter' | |
| Announcing his death on Saturday, Bianchi's family said: "Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end." | Announcing his death on Saturday, Bianchi's family said: "Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end." |
| Former world champion Jenson Button led tributes from the world of motorsport. | Former world champion Jenson Button led tributes from the world of motorsport. |
| "Last night we lost a truly great guy and a real fighter. RIP Jules, my sincerest condolences to his family and friends," the McLaren driver said on Saturday. | "Last night we lost a truly great guy and a real fighter. RIP Jules, my sincerest condolences to his family and friends," the McLaren driver said on Saturday. |
| The Marussia team, now known as Manor, said Bianchi had left an "indelible mark on all our lives". | The Marussia team, now known as Manor, said Bianchi had left an "indelible mark on all our lives". |
| Read more on Bianchi's death | Read more on Bianchi's death |
| The accident happened when Bianchi's car slid off the wet Suzuka track and into a crane picking up the Sauber of German driver Adrian Sutil, who had crashed at the same spot one lap earlier. | The accident happened when Bianchi's car slid off the wet Suzuka track and into a crane picking up the Sauber of German driver Adrian Sutil, who had crashed at the same spot one lap earlier. |
| He suffered massive head injuries and was treated in intensive care in Japan before being transferred to a hospital in Nice in November. | He suffered massive head injuries and was treated in intensive care in Japan before being transferred to a hospital in Nice in November. |
| The 25-year-old competed in 34 races during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, scoring the first-ever championship points for the Manor-Marussia team by finishing ninth at last year's Monaco Grand Prix. | The 25-year-old competed in 34 races during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, scoring the first-ever championship points for the Manor-Marussia team by finishing ninth at last year's Monaco Grand Prix. |
| He is the latest driver to die as a result of a F1 racing accident. | |
| F1 reserve driver Maria De Villota died in 2013 as a consequence of injuries she suffered 15 months earlier in a crash while testing for Marussia in Cambridgeshire in the UK. | |
| Brazilian motor-racing legend Ayrton Senna was killed when his car ran wide at a curve and crashed into a concrete wall at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, near Bologna in Italy, in 1994. |