Jules Bianchi: F1 driver dies from Suzuka crash injuries
French Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi has died, nine months after suffering severe head injuries in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
Bianchi, 25, had been in a coma since crashing his Marussia into a recovery vehicle at October's rain-hit race.
His family said: "Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end."
The Marussia team, now known as Manor, said Bianchi had left an "indelible mark on all our lives".
He is the first F1 driver to die from injuries sustained in a grand prix since Brazilian triple world champion Ayrton Senna was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola in 1994.
Bianchi, who had suffered a diffuse axonal injury, died in hospital near his parents' home in Nice in the south of France.
His family said: "We thank Jules's 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."
Bianchi made his F1 debut with Marussia in 2013 and was also a member of the Ferrari young driver academy after previously working as a test driver for the team.
The Manor team said in a statement: "Words cannot describe the enormous sadness within our team this morning, as we come to terms with losing Jules.
"He has left an indelible mark on all our lives, and will forever be part of everything we have achieved, and everything we will strive for going forward."
F1's governing body, the FIA, said the sport had lost one of its most talented drivers.
"Jules Bianchi was a popular personality in F1, possessing the best of both human and sporting qualities," it said.
The accident happened when Bianchi's car slid off the track and into a crane picking up the Sauber of German driver Adrian Sutil, who had crashed at the same spot one lap earlier.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/33578770
