Ciao Jules – The young Ferrari Driver Academy driver loses fight for life
Posted: 18.07.2015
Source: Ferrari
Nice, 18 July 2015 – “Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end.” The words used by Jules Bianchi’s family to announce the passing of the young Ferrari Driver Academy driver who was involved in a catastrophic accident at the wheel of a Marussia during the Suzuka Grand Prix on October 5 2014 and never recovered from his injuries. Jules was being cared for at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) in Nice where he passed away during the night.
Everyone in Ferrari and all of the Prancing Horse tifosi wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to Jules’ family, particularly his parents Philippe and Christine, his brother Tom and his sister Mélanie, at this time.
Farewell Jules.
Jules, speed in his veins
Posted: 18.07.2015
Source: Ferrari
Jules Lucien André Bianchi lost is fight for life. He was born on 3rd August 1989 in Nice, France and had speed running through his veins. He was the grandson of the racing driver Mauro Bianchi, while his great-uncle was Luciano “Lucien” Bianchi, who won the 1968 Le Mans 24 Hours and drove in 17 Formula 1 Grands Prix under the flag of Belgium, his adopted country.
The talented Frenchman became the first student enrolled in the fledgling Ferrari Driver Academy in 2010, off the back of taking the European Formula 3 title the previous year, when he won no less than nine times. He made his competition debut in karts and by 2007 he was already racing single-seaters. As an Academy student, he raced first in GP2, where he took ten podiums and one win and then in the World Series 3.5, winning three times, finishing second once and recording a further five podium finishes.
Jules was appointed reserve drive for the Force India team in 2012 and the following year, he made his Formula 1 debut with Marussia. In 2014, he delivered the team its first and, to date, only points, with an amazing ninth place in the Monaco Grand Prix, on the track that, more than any other, highlights a driver’s talent.
Farewell Jules
Posted: 18.07.2015
Source: Bianchi Family
A Statement from the Bianchi Family
Nice, France
Saturday 18 July 2015
02.45hrs France │ 01.45hrs UK
It is with deep sadness that the parents of Jules Bianchi, Philippe and Christine, his brother Tom and sister Mélanie, wish to make it known that Jules passed away last night at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) in Nice, (France) where he was admitted following the accident of 5th October 2014 at Suzuka Circuit during the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix.
“Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end,” said the Bianchi family. “The pain we feel is immense and indescribable. We wish to thank the medical staff at Nice’s CHU who looked after him with love and dedication. We also thank the staff of the General Medical Center in the Mie Prefecture (Japan) who looked after Jules immediately after the accident, as well as all the other doctors who have been involved with his care over the past months.
“Furthermore, we thank Jules’ colleagues, friends, fans and everyone who has demonstrated their affection for him over these past months, which gave us great strength and helped us deal with such difficult times. Listening to and reading the many messages made us realise just how much Jules had touched the hearts and minds of so many people all over the world.
“We would like to ask that our privacy is respected during this difficult time, while we try to come to terms with the loss of Jules.”