Bianchi Accident: Procedure Was Followed According to FIA, Which Seeks Changes

Today in Sochi, the FIA held a press conference to provide initial information regarding the ongoing investigation into Jules Bianchi’s accident at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The president of the FIA, Jean Todt, the FIA safety delegate and race director, Charlie Whiting, the Federation’s medical delegate, Jean-Charles Piette, and the medical emergency coordinator, Ian Roberts, were present.

Unaired footage was shown to the press to explain the reasons for the French driver’s off-track incident. As expected, the Marussia encountered a slide in turn 7, leading to an overcorrection by Jules Bianchi. The car suddenly regained grip and ended up veering straight off the track towards the outside of the turn, crashing into the recovery vehicle. For the moment, there is no sign of mechanical failure, emphasized Charlie Whiting.

These images also confirmed that the yellow and green flag procedure was properly followed, as we indicated to you on Monday. According to Whiting, the intervention of the safety car was not necessary before Bianchi’s crash because Adrian Sutil’s accident was far from the track. Regarding the use of the recovery vehicle in Suzuka, the FIA delegate explained that it was deployed by the race direction, and that the FIA was fully aware of it.

Regarding the Bianchi crash itself, the conference informs us that the race direction could not see it live from the control center. A message came from the marshal station that alerted them to it. When looking at the corresponding camera, it didn’t immediately appear that the Marussia was crashed at that location. The system supposed to automatically send a warning to the race direction in case of a violent impact with significant g-force did not function as it was destroyed in the collision. This resulted in a delay of about twenty seconds.

It was emphasized that everything went well afterward: rapid deployment of the medical car, extraction, first aid, and evacuation were carried out very quickly.

J.C. Piette indicated that it took 32 minutes for Jules Bianchi to reach Yokkaichi hospital by ambulance. He also confirmed that while the medical helicopter could take off from Suzuka circuit, weather conditions prevented it from landing at the hospital. However, it had been decided before the race that ambulance use would be possible because the hospital was close enough. The FIA doctor also stated that Jules Bianchi’s condition was not affected by his transfer by road.

Following the analysis of the situation, several points were discussed, starting with the issue of yellow flags. Charlie Whiting explained that not all drivers slowed down for double yellow flags, but that Bianchi did slow down, noting that it was a matter of nuance. Therefore, the FIA will meet with the teams tomorrow to consider implementing a maximum speed under yellow flag conditions to ensure drivers slow down effectively and how to monitor this.

At the same time, Whiting explained that he did not think the race schedule—threatened by Typhoon Phanfone—played a role, despite the decreasing light: « For me, the race start time is completely disconnected from the incident »

Tow vehicles will be used with extreme caution from now on. The idea of skirts to prevent cars from going under the machinery was discussed at the drivers’ briefing this Friday in Sochi. At the same time, Whiting explained that there was no material that was both strong enough and unobtrusive to protect the drivers in case of creating a bubble or a hoop at the front of the single-seaters.

Jean Todt indicated that while he fully trusted the people around him, it was important to learn from what happened. Whatever the changes, the objective is to introduce them from 2015.