Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi suffers ‘severe head injury’ in crash

Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi underwent surgery for what the FIA termed a “severe head injury” after crashing in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Bianchi crashed under yellow in the same spot where Adrian Sutil had spun off just minutes prior. With safety personnel and equipment on the scene to retreive Sutil’s car, Bianchi crashed into the tractor that was set to remove Sutil’s car. The race was under a local yellow for Sutil’s accident.

The black tires with the green markings are the intermediate tires that F1 cars were using on the wet track at Suzuka.

The race was being run while Typhoon Phanfone was hitting the Japanese coast. Shortly after Bianchi’s accident on lap 43, the race was called nine laps before the scheduled finish. It also began under the safety car because of the torrential rains. Race organizers had the option of starting the race earlier to attempt to avoid the rain but didn’t choose to do so.

Lewis Hamilton won while teammate Nico Rosberg was second.

Here’s the complete statement from the FIA:

On lap 42, Adrian Sutil lost control of his car, spun and hit the tyre barrier on the outside of Turn 7. The marshals displayed double waved yellow flags before the corner to warn drivers of the incident. A recovery vehicle was despatched in order to lift the car and take it to a place of safety behind the guardrail. While this was being done the driver of car 17, Jules Bianchi, lost control of his car, travelled across the run-off area and hit the back of the tractor.

Once the marshals reported that the driver was injured, medical teams were despatched and the Safety Car was deployed. These were followed by an extrication team and an ambulance.

The driver was removed from the car, taken to the circuit medical centre and then by ambulance to Mie General Hospital.

The CT scan shows that he has suffered a severe head injury and he is currently undergoing surgery. Following this he will be moved to intensive care where he will be monitored.