The rapid Frenchman died on the 17th July 2015, after a long survival battle following his crash at the Japanese Grand Prix the year before.
Original – https://www.vavel.com/en/motorsports/2025/07/17/1227990-remebering-jules-bianchi-1989-2015.html
The 2014 Japanese Grand Prix should’ve been remembered for another stunning display by the Silver Arrows of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, who took their 8th 1-2 finish of the season, instead the somber reaction of those on the podium, which also included the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel, and the rest of the Paddock will tell you that unfortunately it is known for one of the most tragic accidents in the history of the sport.
On Lap 46, a recovery vehicle was dispatched to recover Adrian Sutil’s Sauber. It was meant to be a standard pickup as cars spinning off was a regular thing, but what no one was expecting was another car to aquaplain with the most devastating consequences, that car was the Marussia driven by Jules Bianchi, who was having his break out season. The Frenchman slid underneath the vehicle and was knocked unconsious, after a near 9 month wait, Bianchi never opened eyes again and passed away.
Though it was a cruel end to Bianchi’s career and life, he had plenty of moments that fans, friends and family will celebrate as proof that he was a diamond in the rough and of the potential that everyone knew he had but that he never got to fulfill.
What could’ve been
Bianchi arrived at the pinnacle of motorsport in 2013, having won French Formula Renualt in 2007, Masters of Formula 3 in 2008 and the F3 Euro Series in 2009 in his Junior career, as one of the two drivers, alongside Max Chilton, who were going to pilot the Marussia MRO2. In the nineteen races that year, Bianchi came out on top in the teammate battle fourteen times, and it should’ve been seventeen, because Bianchi failed to finish in Monaco, Britain and Singapore, only one of which was a crash. Although the team failed to challenge the points paying positions, Bianchi did achieve their highest finish of 13th place in Malaysia, which helped what was once the Virgin team, beat Catherham to tenth place in the Constructors Championship, earning the Banbury outfit $10 million.
Both drivers were retained for 2014, the first year of the hybrid era. Both Bianchi and Chilton were given a upgraged car, now containing 1.6L turbocharged V6 hybrid engines, and now having a Ferrari engine in the back of it, replacing the exiting Cosworth. It wasn’t a great start to pre season though, as the squad missed the first test at the end of January, because the car wasn’t ready.
They made the first race in Australia, but up until the sixth race in Monaco, they were still pointless and had suffered three DNF’s, one of which was a double retirement in the first race down under. However, it was in the principality, where Bianchi really showed his potential, as he wrestled his Marussia from 21st place up to 9th, scoring the team’s first and only points. Unfortunately, another double retirement arrived in Belgium and two further DNF’s followed, and after the tragic events of Susuka, the team wouldn’t take the grid ever again, leaving Bianchi’s Monaco heroics as the shining moment in their history.
Family Roots
Bianchi’s legacy may still be finished, by his godson, Charles Leclerc, who has also shown he has the ability to become a champion, just like his godfather, and has had several blistering starts to a season, but through both his own mistakes and car troubles, coming closest in 2022, all his challenges fell away far before the end of said season.
But now, with Leclerc expressing frustration at the state of Ferrai, a move to a more consistent team could be on the cards, so the Monagasque may still have a chance to reach his potential, both for himself and for his family, and for his friend and fellow fallen racer, Anthoine Hubert.
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