Jules Bianchi 1989-2015

Former Formula One driver Jules Bianchi has passed away last night in France, eventually succumbing to the brain damage that he sustained during last year's crash in the Japanese Grand Prix.

The 25 year-old Frenchmen died last night at 2:45 local time, in Nice, France.

A statement from his parent, Philippe and Christine, his brother Tom and sister Mélanie, made it public that Jules passed away last night at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) in Nice, (France) where he was admitted following the accident of 5th October 2014 at Suzuka Circuit during the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix.

“Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end,” said the Bianchi family. “The pain we feel is immense and indescribable. We wish to thank the medical staff at Nice’s CHU who looked after him with love and dedication. We also thank the staff of the General Medical Center in the Mie Prefecture (Japan) who looked after Jules immediately after the accident, as well as all the other doctors who have been involved with his care over the past months.

Jules Bianchi debuted in Formula One in 2013, racing nearly two full seasons with the Marussia F1 Team, with whom he secured his and the team's only World Championship points by finishing 4th in the Monaco Grand Prix of 2014.

Bianchi however has been in a coma ever since his crash towards the end of the Japanese Grand Prix, where he aquaplaned off the track under safety car conditions. As he hit a tractor in the run-off area, Bianchi suffered severe head trauma and underwent surgery soon after his accident to stabilise his situation. Sadly, this failed to save the promising Frenchman.

His family therefore also liked to thanks friends and fans for their support, and wish to have their privacy respected in these difficult times.

"Furthermore, we thank Jules’ colleagues, friends, fans and everyone who has demonstrated their affection for him over these past months, which gave us great strength and helped us deal with such difficult times. Listening to and reading the many messages made us realise just how much Jules had touched the hearts and minds of so many people all over the world.

"We would like to ask that our privacy is respected during this difficult time, while we try to come to terms with the loss of Jules.”