A Tribute to Jules Bianchi
It has officially been 10 years since the tragic death of Jules Bianchi. The Japanese Grand Prix in 2015 could not have been more devastating, as Typhoon Phanfone had soaked the circuit. However, the race proceeded nonetheless, and it was then that the dreadful events occurred. The then 25-year-old had a 78 miles per hour collision with a recovery car, and was swiftly taken to the hospital. Bianchi underwent surgery when the CT scan showed he had a severe head injury. He did not regain consciousness and passed away nine months later. The date of July 17th, 2015, is one that Formula 1 will not forget, for Bianchi was not just a driver; he was a friend.
To Charles Leclerc, the number one driver for Ferrari, Bianchi was truly family. Their shared bond of karting and motorsports inspired Leclerc and taught him valuable lessons in the way he drives. Though Bianchi is no longer here, his legacy lives on through Leclerc in every race. Whether the drive is a good or bad one, there are aspects of his friend when he controls his braking style. Leclerc is known for having an aggressive braking style, which was picked up from Bianchi, due to the fact that he taught him how to do it. Leclerc is never fully off his brakes, which helps the rotation of the car on corners and increases speed and lap time.
Bianchi had collected many achievements in his karting years, finishing third in the Trophée des Jeunes FFSA Cadets back in 2002. Additionally, he won the Asia-Pacific Championship Formula A title, and when he made his way to actual racing cars, he won five races and finished first in his debut with French Formula Renault 2.0. Binachi joined the Ferrari Drivers Academy back in 2009 and became the test driver for the team only two years later. In 2012, he became Force India’s reserve driver, making his Formula 1 debut in 2013 at the Australian Grand Prix with Marussia.
The memory of Bianchi lives on in Formula 1 in many ways, but since 2018, every car has been fitted with the halo device. This halo serves as a safety guard for the driver's head, so that if the car flips over, the driver will not have their head in the open. As of 2015, officials can activate a virtual safety car system, which electronically tells drivers to slow down when needed. This was created specifically as a result of Bianchi’s crash and death. Now, Formula 1 has and always will be one of the most dangerous sports, but there are now better ways to care for the drivers in races. Bianchi’s life and legacy will always be remembered in Formula 1, but there will never be a replacement for his soft smile.
