Bianchi accident: Sutil reflects on conditions at the end of the Grand Prix

Adrian Sutil crashed on the 43rd lap of the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix while following Jules Bianchi. One lap later, the Frenchman went off track at the same place, violently hitting the recovery vehicle that was maneuvering to secure the German’s Sauber.

The Marussia driver is currently between life and death at Yokkaichi General Hospital in Mie Prefecture, suffering from diffuse axonal injuries.

Adrian Sutil, interviewed by Adam Cooper, reflected on those laps that cast a pall over Formula 1: « We had a lot of rain, but when we were racing it was probably the best conditions of the day. We had almost no more rain, the track was OK to drive on intermediates. I think when we were racing, we almost had an hour without rain. The only risk was at the end, the light diminished, and then the drizzle increased more and more. »

At this moment in the race, some drivers decided to pit for wet tires while others, including Sutil and Bianchi, were using intermediate tires towards the end of their stint: « I really struggled to keep the car on the track, and towards the end it started raining more and more, it became really dark, so it was difficult to see the puddles on the track. I was following Jules very closely, I lost the car in turn 8 due to aquaplaning, had a big crash, and hit the wall. At that moment, I wasn’t in the best position, but luckily nothing happened to me, I was fine, I could get out. »

« The next lap, the accident with Jules occurred, the same kind of mistake as mine, or the same thing that happened with the aquaplaning, and he lost the car. I just saw him arrive with no control over the car. » A video posted on the Internet by an amateur videographer positioned in the grandstand of the last corner of the circuit showed that Jules Bianchi had lost control of his Marussia and headed straight toward the recovery vehicle.

« [The conditions] worsened over these two laps. Obviously, our tires were nearing the end, so the resistance to aquaplaning was no longer as good. I saw several cars sliding even when the safety car came out, at the moment I was standing near the accident, so there must have been a fairly large stream forming. It really caused two accidents. The rain came, the tires were at the end of their lifespan, people were struggling, and it was really difficult to drive. »

The German explains that the difficult lighting conditions were exacerbated by the pilot’s poor visibility in such conditions: « The problem in our cars is that when it gets dark, you can still see, but we have very bright lights on the steering wheel, so they disturb us. We have a very small view from the helmet, and in addition, there are bright lights, which are normally set to maximum brightness in, say, sunny conditions, otherwise we can’t really see. But in the dark conditions, it affects the view a lot. During these laps, with all the spray and droplets on the visor, it was really hard to see. »

« That’s why, sometimes, from the outside, and also from the safety car, it seems drivable – they have a big windshield – but nobody knows what it’s like for us in the car, and with these cars that are so difficult to drive today, with no grip, and high power. »