Father Bianchi: Jules’s condition unchanged

Five days following Jules Bianchi's horrific crash during the Japanese Grand Prix, the Frenchman’s father Philippe has revealed that his son is still in critical condition.

Jules had to be undergo surgery in the wake of his life-threatening crash and has been on life support since then. Father Bianchi said to French daily Nice-Martin that the whole family was touched by the affection and the support of the world.

“It really has been tremendous and something that I could not even imagine," he said, "even if I know that Jules is a nice boy."

The Marussia driver has been treated near Suzuka, but two highly respected European doctors also flew to the hospital. One of them is Gerard Saillant who was part of the medical team which treated Michael Schumacher after his ski accident. The 69-year-old doctor is a specialist in head and spinal cord injuries. Ferrari also sent its specialist Alessandro Frati, a neurosurgeon at the University of Rome La Sapienza.

Both specialists have been cooperating with the Japanese medical team and fulfil a consultative role.

"Professor Saillant and the Italian specialist who came at the request of Ferrari are cooperating fully with the local doctors," said Philippe Bianchi. „So he could not be better cared for. There are no significant changes. Everyone knows that he is in a critical phase.”

"But Jules fights like he has always fought. Just as in the races. He is strong."

Philippe admitted he has not seen the video footage of the accident yet, but from what he saw the crash was reminiscent of a road accident rather then a racing incident.

"I do not want to see the video," he insisted. "It is difficult to speak of a racing incident. To me, it’s more like a traffic accident.

Jules’s siblings Tom and Melanie and also his best friend Lorenz travelled to Suzuka to support Ferrari Driver Academy's leading figure.