Title tussle takes a back seat as F1 mourns for Bianchi

I really hope the best for his family as well. Bianchi, 25, died Friday July, 17, from head injuries sustained in a crash at last year’s Japanese Grand Prix. In the awful accident he was collided at high speed with a mobile crane which was being used to pick up another crashed auto. “We shared the track together and now he is not here anymore so this will always be in my heart”.

Alonso, a two-time F1 champion, developed a tight bond with the up-and-coming Bianchi.

“I spent the most time with him when we both did the Ferrari Academy”.

“You know you could be there, it could be your family”.

“It was so hard to be there in the church, to understand what’s happened, it was so sad”.

Pastor Maldonado and Felipe Massa were locked in embrace while tears rolled down their faces, as the congregation gathered around Bianchi’s coffin, the 25-year-old late Marussia driver’s helmet perched atop. “I’m taking all the right steps possible to make sure it’s a nice summer break, not just for me but for all the people in the team”, he said.

“A fantastic boy, very nice, very humble and an unbelievable driver“.

Mercedes, Williams and Bianchi’s former team, Manor, also ran #JB17 on their cars in honour of the Frenchman.

F1 drivers shared more of their personal memories of Bianchi during the Hungarian GP build-up on Thursday.

Memories will be all around them as they meet, talk, drive and race.

“Important lessons have been learned from his tragic accident last year and changes implemented to prevent that kind of accident recurring”. “When I’m driving I don’t know anything…”

“The weekend is clearly going to be tough, but as a team we have to move forward and I think it is important that we do that”.

The world of Formula One, led by world champion Lewis Hamilton, turned out en masse for Jules Bianchi’s funeral on Tuesday.

Although the 30-year-old appreciates enormous strides have been taken over the years between the deaths of Senna and Bianchi, it has highlighted to him that more can still be done.

On the possibility of introducing closed cockpits, Stevens said he was not in favor. Bianchi was tipped to become a Ferrari driver and enjoy an outstanding career. Somebody did ask “what do you remember the most?” and I can honestly say that what I remember the most was from the minute he stepped into the garage, and the moment we said goodbye, he was a pleasure to work with.

“I’m representing this message for Jules this weekend”, said the 25-year-old, who met Bianchi while competing in Formula Renault 2.0 shortly after moving to Europe in 2007. Not to see him ever again, it really shocks you.

“The past few days have been extremely hard for our team members, but I am very proud of the way everyone has balanced the enormous sense of loss with the focus required for the start of a Grand Prix weekend”, insisted Booth.