The parents of Jules Bianchi have arrived at his bedside in intensive care in Japan, 24 hours after he underwent surgery for a serious head injury in one of Formula One’s worst crashes in nearly two decades.
Philippe and Christine Bianchi entered the hospital without speaking to journalists, as a row brewed in the rarefied world of F1 over why race organisers had pressed ahead with their planned start time when such heavy rain was expected.
The young French driver careened out of control on a rain-sodden circuit at Suzuka on Sunday, smashing into a recovery vehicle near the end of a rain-sodden Japanese Grand Prix.
Formula One’s governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), said the 25-year-old Marussia driver had suffered a “severe head injury”.
The hospital was refusing to comment on the driver’s condition, citing patient privacy and directing enquiries to the FIA.
An AFP reporter at the scene said Marussia team principal John Booth and team general manager Graeme Lowdon had both been at the facility during the day.
Both men appeared to have slept little and deflected questions on the driver’s condition.
In a statement, the team thanked fans for the “huge outpouring of support and affection for Jules and the Team”.
They said information about the driver’s condition would only be released with the blessing of his family.
“Together with Jules’ care, they will remain our highest priority. Therefore, we would ask for patience and understanding with regard to further medical updates, which will be communicated in conjunction with the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi, where Jules is being treated, when they feel it is appropriate.
“Representatives of the Marussia F1 Team and Scuderia Ferrari will remain at the hospital to support Jules and the Bianchi family.”
An unconscious Bianchi had to be removed from the wreckage of his car after the horror smash, which happened as he ploughed into a recovery vehicle lifting Adrian Sutil’s prone Sauber away from danger after the German had skidded into a wall on lap 42.
