Jules Bianchi: motorsport in mourning

Among the friends that Jules Bianchi faced in F1, his compatriot Romain Grosjean was one of the most affected by the announcement of his death : “We lost one of the best guys and best drivers I’ve ever met. I will miss you very much my friend. A painful Saturday, but I imagine even more painful for Jules’ family. This morning we learned the sad news of your death, following this terrible accident on October 5, 2014, which I will never be able to forget. I'm going to miss you so much my friend. Not only were you an extraordinary driver but you were also and above all a great guy. Rest in peace… "

The tricolor pilot Jean-Eric Vergne was just as much: “Destiny is probably the only thing you can't fight against, otherwise Jules is the greatest fighter and most talented pilot I've ever met. We will miss you my friend... The world of Motorsport thanks you for writing a page in History. You were a true friend in the paddock and what a good driver. My thoughts are with your family. Jules you will always be there…”

Lewis Hamilton : “It’s a very sad day. Please pray well for Jules' loved ones. Rest in peace. God bless you. »

Nico Rosberg : “I am very sad to learn that Jules Bianchi has passed away. I think of Jules and his family. »

Fernando Alonso : “Friend, companion, smiling and talented. Eternal. Rest in peace Jules. Forever with us. »

Jenson Button also had a thought for the former Marussia driver. “We lost a great guy and real fighter last night. Rest in peace Jules. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. »

Felipe Massa: “All my thoughts are with Jules’ family. I'm going to miss you bro! Rest in peace Jules. »

Valtteri Bottas was also moved. “I woke up to this very sad news. Rest in peace Jules. You will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with his family. »

Bruno Senna, Ayrton’s nephew, was obviously touched: “My thoughts are with Jules Bianchi’s family. It is to be hoped that the lessons learned will prevent further tragedies like this. »

Daniel Ricciardo captioned a series of pictures where he appears alongside his friend when they were a few years younger. “I will never forget these good times we spent together. I'm going to miss you bro. »

Daniil Kvyat : “Rest in peace, Jules. Forever in our hearts. »

Max Chilton was certainly one of the most affected by the news, the Briton having been his teammate at Marussia. “I have no words to describe what his family and the sport have lost. All I can say is that it was a pleasure knowing you and riding alongside you. I learned a lot from him. He was a driver who was destined to be world champion. I was often behind him for two years. I occasionally got to be in front of him and he didn't like it. He found a way to be faster. It was difficult and I could never have imagined that something like this would happen. »

Pastor Maldonado: “Fly high Jules Bianchi. My sincere condolences to his family. Rest in peace my friend. »

Kevin Magnussen also expressed his sorrow: “Rest in peace Jules. He is a great talent and a great loss for motorsport. My thoughts are with his family and friends. »

Max Verstappen : “Today we lost a magnificent person and talent… Words cannot describe our emotions at this moment. We will all miss you Jules. »

Carlos Sainz Jr : “Terrible news. Rest in peace teammate. You were a great example of courage and dedication to all of us. You will always be with us. »

Marcus Ericsson : “Terrible news today. It's so unfair. He was one of the best on and off the track. Rest in peace my friend. »

Felipe Nasr : “Very bad news about Jules. We have lost a true fighter... All my thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. »

Sergio Pérez : " Sad news. It will be hard to know that we will no longer see you on Sundays with the joy that you transmitted to everyone, Jules! Rest in peace. »

Nico Hulkenberg : “Rest in peace Jules. »

Roberto Merhi : “Very bad news for motorsport. The best driver I raced against left after nine months fighting for his life. Rest in peace my friend Jules. »

Will Stevens : “Devastated by this news. This is a hard loss for Jules’ family, his friends and the sport. Rest in peace teammate. You will always be with us. »

Alain Prost : “We will always remember Jules. Our thoughts are with all his family and friends. »

Olivier panis, who also shone at the 1996 Monaco GP : “Have a good trip my Jules Bianchi. A champion never dies. All my condolences to the family and loved ones. »

Paul di Resta : “Very sad news this morning. Rest in peace my friend. All our thoughts are with you Jules Bianchi. »

Nicolas Todt, who was Jules Bianchi's manager, is obviously devastated. “You were the little brother I always dreamed of having. It has been an immense privilege to share these last ten years with you. I'll miss you. »

Luke of Montezemolo, the former president of Ferrari, also expressed, as Vijay Mallya, the director of Force India.

The stables also share the pain of this disappearance, notably with McLaren “The thoughts of everyone at McLaren are with the friends and family of Jules Bianchi. We will miss you terribly. » et Ferrari where Jules Bianchi was a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy. “Forever in the hearts of Ferrari. Hello Jules. »

Manor F1 Team was obviously one of the first teams to react, by publishing a statement where John Booth, the Team Principal, speaks with emotion.

Force India, which almost welcomed the young hopeful on his debut in 2013, was also affected. “Our thoughts are with Jules’ family and friends at this time. We will miss you terribly, Jules. Rest in peace. »

Red Bull : “A tragic loss. All our thoughts are with the family and friends of Jules Bianchi. Rest in peace JB17. »

Haas F1 Team, future team that will arrive in F1 in 2016: “Our prayers and thoughts are with the family and friends of Jules Bianchi. God of speed, Jules. »

The constructor Renault also reacted. “It is with infinite sadness that the World Series by Renault and Renault Sport Technologies family learned this morning of the death of Jules Bianchi, aged 25. Heir to a long family motorsport tradition, Jules had competed in several seasons in car. His debut took place in the French Formula Renault 2.0 France Championship, where he immediately showed the extent of his talent. Jules then started in a Formula Renault 3.5 at the Monaco round, before competing for the title in 2012. A member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Jules joined the Marussia F1 Team in 2013, a team for which he would go score the first points in Monaco in 2014. Victim of an accident at the last Japanese Grand Prix, Jules Bianchi leaves behind his kindness, his discretion and his unique talent. The entire Renault Sport family joins in the pain of the family and loved ones of Jules Bianchi through this terrible ordeal. »

Cyril Abiteboul, the director of Renault Sport F1: “It’s a sad day for motorsport. In a part of the grid that was little covered, Jules' talent, spirit and style were an example for everyone. »

Mercedes also testified his sentence : “Today, the motorsport family is in mourning. Rest in peace Jules, your memory will live long. »

La FIA obviously did not fail to rpay tribute to Jules Bianchi. The FFSA also have communicated on his former hope.

Bernie Ecclestone, director of the FOM: “It was so sad to hear the news about Jules. We will miss a very talented pilot and a very pleasant person to be around. We must not let this happen again. »

Le GDPA also published a statement.

The world of endurance also wanted to bear witness to its pain, likeAllan McNish : “It’s sad to wake up to the news that Jules Bianchi passed away last night. My thoughts are with the family and his close friends today. » ou Neel jani : “Tragic but there is nothing more to say than “Rest in Peace” Jules Bianchi”. Loïc duval commented : " No words ! The legend never dies. »

Pierre Fillon, the president of the ACO, published a press release in the middle of the day : “It is with great sadness and deep emotion that we learn this morning the painful news of the disappearance of Jules Bianchi. On behalf of the ACO and all its collaborators, I would like to extend my condolences to Jules' family and loved ones. He is part of the great motorsport family and through his talent and courage, he has earned the recognition of his peers and all fans of the discipline. To his family and loved ones, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest extends its most sincere condolences. »

Gérard Neveu, Director of WEC : ?Today?s announcement of the passing of Jules Bianchi made the WEC paddock very sad. Jules was a great motorsport driver and he will leave behind a great void. The entire WEC family fully associates itself with the grief of Jules' family and loved ones. We send our sincere condolences. There will forever be a place for Jules in our memories and in our hearts. »

F1's future hopefuls are not left out, as Stoffel vandoorne : “Rest in peace Jules. My thoughts are with his family and friends. We will not forget you. » ou Alexander Red : “Thank you for shining a light in this sport and being the driver everyone wanted to be. Thank you for being part of the 1% behind the wheel. »

Other disciplines are no exception. Davy Jeanney, official pilot Peugeot en Rallycross, wrote : “France loses a talent, all my thoughts are with the family. Hello champion… Rest in peace Jules Bianchi. »

Sébastien Loeb : “Sad after the passing of Jules Bianchi. A great guy and top driver. Rest in peace champion. My condolences to his loved ones #RIPJules”

Sébastien Ogier : “I am so sad to hear that Jules Bianchi is gone. Rest in peace Jules. »

Thierry Neuville : “Rest in peace Jules. It's a sad day. All my thoughts are with his family and friends. »

Even the official Nascar account, which has more than 2 million subscribers, took up the #RIPJules commemorative hashtag most cited on the blue bird website.

The other structures involved in motorsport were also saddened, in particular ART GP who welcomed Jules Bianchi in F3 and in GP2. “There are no words to describe how we feel today. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Jules will always be part of our team. »

Tech 1 Racing was also affected by his disappearance, the Toulouse team having welcomed him in 2012 into the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. “We send our sincere condolences to Jules’ family and assure them of our support in these moments of pain,” express Simon and Sarah Abadie, Team Managers of Tech 1 Racing. “Rationally, we knew the fight would be extremely difficult, but we were all waiting for the miracle. With a spirit as strong as his, we never stopped hoping. We are proud to have worked with such a generous and talented person. Jules was a fighter. Have a good trip our friend! »

The president of the Republic Francois Hollande also had a thought. “It is with great emotion that I learned of the death of Jules Bianchi. After a terrible accident in Japan and despite nine months of fierce battle, he passed away last night at the age of 25. French Motorsport loses with it one of its greatest hopes. My thoughts are with his parents, family and friends. I send them my deepest condolences.”, he announced in a press release.

The former prime minister François Fillon, a motorsport enthusiast, also wanted to testify following this news. “Sad and brutal awakening with the cruel news of the death of Jules Bianchi. Jules, talent and courage in its purest form. Thoughts for his loved ones. »

Thomas Senecal, journalist at Canal+ : “To Jules who had everything going for him. To his family who paid so dearly for his passion for motorsport. Thoughts. Sadness. Support. #RIPJB17”