The Japanese Grand Prix has been overshadowed by a serious accident involving French driver Jules Bianchi. Bianchi was rushed to hospital from the track and is undergoing surgery.
Lewis Hamilton was the winner of a race run under heavy rain – the race started behind a safety car. The race was brought to a premature end after 44 of the scheduled 53 laps. The second red flag of the day meant Lewis Hamilton was declared the winner.
The race had earlier been under a red flag following Adrian Sutil of Sauber crashing at turn eight.
It was this incident that indirectly led to Bianchi’s crash, as the Marussia went off the track at the same spot and hit the digger that was then clearing the wreckage of Sutil’s car. It was after Bianchi’s crash that the safety car came out and the race was called off two laps later.
Bianchi’s father has told France 3 his son is in a “serious” condition at a hospital close to the Suzuka track.
The BBC's Andrew Benson tweeted that Bianchi has suffered a "severe" head injury and is currently in surgery.
FIA says Bianchi has suffered a "severe" head injury. He is in surgery and will be taken to intensive care afterwards
— Andrew Benson (@andrewbensonf1) October 5, 2014
There are unconfirmed reports from Italian media that Bianchi is in a coma.
Nice Rosberg of Mercesed said: "My thoughts are with my colleague. They have given us some information and it seems very, very serious."
Sutil told Sky Sports F1: "The yellow flags were out after I aquaplaned at the corner as the rain got more and more.
"And one lap later with waved yellow flags Jules came around and had the same spin there.
"It was more or less the same crash, but just the outcome was a bit different."
Sutil believes the safety car should have been deployed after his crash, to protect the other drivers.
“With respect to this corner I think everyone knows this is one of the most tricky corners and when it is getting late and the rain increases.
"Let’s say when you have an accident there you should probably think about a Safety Car."
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