Ten years ago, Jules Bianchi hit a crane during the Japanese Grand Prix, ushering in the era of the Halo
If October 5th may seem like an ordinary date for most people, it resonates differently with Formula 1 fans, as it marks the anniversary of the terrible accident of Jules Bianchi during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. Ten years later, he is still very much alive in our memories. His death notably led to the introduction of the Halo in Formula 1 and has already saved many lives.
The thirtieth edition of the Japanese Grand Prix will forever remain a painful memory for all those involved in Formula 1, but also for all fans of the sport. On October 5, 2014, despite torrential conditions caused by Typhoon Phanfone, the race at the Suzuka circuit went ahead. A tragic accident would later claim the life of French driver Jules Bianchi. There had not been a death in Formula 1 for over 20 years, since the weekend when Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger lost their lives.
A tragic accident
The track conditions are disastrous, with heavy rain, which leads to Adrian Sutil’s Sauber going off track, resulting in the deployment of the safety car. A crane is then sent onto the track to clear the German driver’s car, with the other F1 cars still on track.
Despite the presence of the safety car, which significantly slows down the pace of the race, the track remains dangerous and two laps later, it is the French driver Jules Bianchi who loses control of his Marussia. At that moment, no information is given about the reasons for his off-track exit and no one suspects the tragic turn that this race is about to take.
The television did not film the Frenchman’s accident live, but the red flag is waved and all the drivers must return. We still do not know that there has been a serious accident, but after a few minutes, we realize that Bianchi’s car is missing.
After long minutes without any news from the Frenchman, the world of F1 falls into silence: it is announced that Jules Bianchi violently collided with the crane trying to extract Adrian Sutil’s car. No images are broadcast due to the violence of the impact, measured at 92G at its peak.
Rescuers rush to the scene as quickly as possible, but Jules is found unconscious in his car. He is immediately taken to the nearest hospital and the Grand Prix is definitively stopped. For the rest of the paddock, the situation is unbearable.
The news about the Frenchman’s health condition is emerging: he is in critical condition, alive but in a coma. Hospitalized in Japan, the first operations are being carried out urgently. It is only the next day that more and more videos of the accident start to emerge. We can see the Marussia going straight towards the lifting device, then crashing into the back of the crane at high speed. Everyone then realizes that the accident is not minor. Jules Bianchi is directly hit at the helmet level.
A month after his accident, he is repatriated to Nice, his hometown, and the news is given with little optimism. The F1 driver will pass away on July 17, 2015. On that day, the world of F1 loses one of its most promising talents, but above all, a man appreciated by all the drivers in the paddock and the media, who managed to leave his mark in many ways.
Jules Bianchi is one of the first French drivers interviewed by Motors Inside, at the time also with Charles Pic. His smile and good mood remain in our memories.
The birth of the Halo
Following Jules’ accident, but also that of María de Villota, in private tests, when she got jammed under a truck, Formula 1 safety has been enhanced with the introduction of the Halo, a carbon protection designed to protect the drivers’ heads in order to prevent such situations from happening again.
Introduced in 2018, it was quickly hailed for its effectiveness. Thanks to this device, drivers like Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and Guanyu Zhou were able to walk away unscathed from their respective accidents. It is also this same device that saved Romain Grosjean’s life during his impressive accident in Bahrain in 2020.
Many tributes from the pilots
Every year, many drivers pay tribute to the Frenchman, including Charles Leclerc, godfather of the Jules Bianchi association and his lifelong friend.
This year, he notably took part in the Jules Bianchi marathon, a karting race that pays tribute to him.
An emotional moment for the Monegasque, who regularly recalls that without Jules, he would not be in Formula 1: « In 2010, my father no longer had enough money to finance my karting years. It was supposed to be my last year. But Jules spoke about me to his manager, Nicolas Todt, who then paid for everything for me until my arrival in Formula 1. Without Jules, I would be nowhere.
After his victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2015, Sebastian Vettel also paid a moving tribute to Jules.
Once the finish line was crossed, the Ferrari driver spoke on the radio, turning his thoughts to the Frenchman: “Thank you Jules, this victory is for you. You will always be in our hearts. We all know that one day, you would have been part of this team.” Jules was indeed expected to join the Scuderia, a dream he had been pursuing for a long time.
Jules’s legacy will continue to live on through every turn taken on the track and in the hearts of all those who knew him.
