Mourning drivers to carry Bianchi tribute in Hungary

  • Published on 22 Jul 2015 12:45
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Mourning F1 drivers will carry on their cars the 'CiaoJules' hashtag tribute to their fallen rival Jules Bianchi this weekend in Hungary. The collective tribute comes in the wake of the talented Frenchman's tragic death last Friday, nine months after falling into a coma following his 2014 Suzuka crash.

No less than 36 of Bianchi's race driver colleagues, including many from the feeder category GP2, flocked to the late 25-year-old's native Nice on Tuesday for the funeral. F1 stars including Sebastian Vettel, Pastor Maldonado, Felipe Massa, Romain Grosjean and Jean-Eric Vergne were even pallbearers, while others including Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo also paid their respects in Nice. "It was extremely emotional," Nico Rosberg told Bild newspaper.

Nico Hulkenberg added: "It was the first funeral I have been to. Incredibly emotional and peaceful." Also there was Grand Prix Drivers' Association president Alex Wurz, but he denied that he had pushed hard for his colleagues to travel to Nice. "The presence of the drivers came from the heart," said the Austrian. "No one had to be convinced to come. Every one of us knows that the life of a friend and a colleague is far more important than any podium."

Another reason for the large turnout, suggested Bianchi's manager Nicholas Todt, was the former Marussia driver's personality. "He was so natural, humble," said Todt. "F1 is a complicated profession, often you can lose touch with reality, but he always knew how to remain humble and nice with everybody and that made him different from the others."

Another great tragedy is that Bianchi died before his full potential could be displayed, as he was apparently destined for a future Ferrari race seat. And Roberto Merhi, his successor at Manor Marussia, said the Bianchi tragedy as well as that of late test driver Maria de Villota, has been hard on the team.

"They did not deserve it. They are a great team who have had bad luck with this and with Maria," he told the Spanish sports daily Marca. "And I'm sorry for the boss, John Booth, who is an excellent manager, one of the best in F1. For me, Bianchi was the most complete of my generation," said Spaniard Merhi, 24.

"I remember he arrived for a kart race in 2002 in Vendrell, in Spain, without knowing the circuit, which in this age is crucial, but he was like a bullet immediately. In 2009 he won the F3 euro series with a car that was very good, but he crushed everybody," recalled Merhi, "including Bottas and Ricciardo." (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country BR
  • Date of b. Apr 21 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Sao Paulo, BR
  • Weight 59 kg
  • Length 1.66 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar