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You've opened a path Jules

FEATURE BY MAX NOBLE
28/07/2015

Such a fine young man taken so tragically, foremost from his family, but then from a supportive F1 community of drivers, teams, and fans.

Just as in families, it is often a death that can unite, far more than a marriage. People reflect, harsh words are forgotten, quiet smiles of understanding replace the rigid lips of personal barriers. Small positive steps are taken for the future, walking with grace down a path opened by the dead.

May it be so for F1. The bickering, the ever-shortening lifespan of drivers and senior team members (or indeed of teams in some instances), the grumbles of well -eaning fans, these are not a path we should be walking. All have given this season a bittersweet taste of unfulfilled promise. Each new interaction a twitch of irritation where harsh words are spoken too soon, and forgiveness is a forgotten commodity.

The so tragic, too soon (by decades) loss of Jules has opened the path for a warming of hearts, a respectful meeting of minds, and an honest discussion about a useful way forward for the sport, if only all those F1 family members can let a hint of compassion and companionship creep softly into their souls. This tragic loss could lead to a sweetness that lingers for years if the F1 family will let it do so. We need a few brave leading F1 family members to take those first steps down the path, and have the others follow.

Isaac Newton so keenly noted, "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants". While Jules will not live to be a giant of the sport, that does not stop him being the giant that grants strength and strong shoulders to stand on for others to drive a vision of a greater path into the future. That would be a great and fitting memorial for a man that by all accounts embodied all that is fine in a great sportsman, and, even, more importantly, in a fine human being.

When Bernie finally slips off this mortal coil (assuming any other humans are still around to note his passing), it will be with quiet reflection on a life lived at full throttle from which he extracted 100% from every path presented to him. Sad, not tragic. When a beautiful young life is taken so brutally early, so unexpectedly, that is tragic. Bernie has already built a legacy, we do not need to wring our hands over his memorial. For Jules we need to make that effort.

Too many have walked before him to an abrupt tragic end. Aryton, Roland, and before them Gilles. Then so many others that I'm sure Stirling and Jackie only have to close their eyes to have them standing in the room before them. Each left a mark so heavy on their families, and of course on the wider community. But this was a community standing in the shadow of World War Two, all around so many deaths that nations were still numb. Our sensibilities have matured, and we now recognize each family's loss as a tragic event that should be respected, and where possible used to shape a brighter future for all.

We fans can only stand and wish the powers in F1 well, as they head down another path of possible self-interest over common good. Yet, if, if, we can deflect them just a millimetre towards common good on the shoulders of Jules, then a fitting legacy is taking shape.

In Australia the leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 44 years is suicide. Think on that for a moment, the figures are similar in all developed countries. We have made all walks of life so safe, yet made hope for a bright future so hard, that more young people are killing themselves by their own hand than any other malady. In this, the non-world war current environment, Jules was a model of a great young man. Respected, hard-working, positive, and capable. A beacon to others of what a young life can achieve when talent and opportunity meet and mix well.

So now, as we did for poor Ayrton, we do not glory in the horror of death, rather we respect it, we rightly honour the dead, and we use the energy it creates in us for good. For safety in the sport. For respect among key players and for each other. For lasting and fitting tributes to great people returned to their maker so tragically soon.

We are not forgetting those lost to families every day around the World. Rather we are symbolizing all young loss with this particular loss. Jules can symbolize hope for all those facing a battle as a young person trying to make it in the world, and as a call to support for those of us over 44 years of age. What a tribute, and fine legacy if we remember Jules by going that extra yard for our young people. Be it safety in motor sport, be it polite support in a social or family environment, or be it as part of our job, where for one young person on this day, we remember Jules and support them in some way that aids the living by respecting the dead.

Jules paid the ultimate price for his commitment and passion. Now it is a burden on us all to make it worth the cost.

Jules we celebrate your life, respect and honour your passing, and now we can choose to work to give you a lasting living tribute worthy of you and your family. Thank you for opening this path; may we and all those in F1 find the strength to walk it.

Max Noble.

Learn more about Max and check out his previous features, here

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READERS COMMENTS

 

1. Posted by cricketpo, 03/08/2015 20:45

"There are no more words that can used that can convey the sadness of the death of this young man. It will, I hope, bring fresh impetus to the drive for safety in motor sport. There are merits in "pushing the envelope" but I don't want to see it at the expense of a young life creully cut short. Ever."

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2. Posted by Max Noble, 29/07/2015 1:29

"@canuck - First many thanks for the kind comments, that means much to me!

Agree with your referenced comment on the safety skirt. As semi trailers on the road have "anti dive bars" fitted side and rear to stop passenger cars going under them in a crash one would assume such a simple measure on large recovery vehicles would be a benefit that is not too difficult to realise. Having noted that, just like poor Massa getting hit by an escapee spring, Jules had a freak accident that was a shocking combination of circumstances that conspired so tragically against him.

To the article... What I was driving toward (other than a continued drive for safety in all Motorsport) is when a noted public figure meets a tragic end, the lasting good it can be used for is to drive a change in behaviour in those of us still here. If we use Jules as a beacon for what can be achieved by a driven and supported young person, we should all strive to support young people wherever we meet them, and go the extra mile in supporting them to their goals. Then when we have performed an act of kindness or support that moves that young person forward, we can think "Jules would smile if he could see this young person press on and not give up". That is a legacy that can last generations.

In the specific instance of F1 we can use it to keep a sensible focus on safety, while ensuring passion and focus lead to great racing. For those in power within F1 it should be a clear reminder that if such a fine young man paid the ultimate price to be a part of the show, then they should push self-interest aside in his honourable memory, and darn well act in the common good to make it a series to make Jules and his family proud they were a part of it. "

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3. Posted by Canuck, 28/07/2015 22:24

"Max another well written article but I am not sure what you are proposing as a legacy to Jules. Yes youth suicide is a terrible thing, but how do you propose to brighten the future hopes of individuals when the primary aspiration is financial success as opposed to personal development. Your proposal requires national governments to have a serious look into the root causes of this rising tendency and take action. If no national governments then a UN action that would be active in all nations. Somehow I feel that is not attainable. From the standpoint of auto sports, I commented on the article about the GPDA statement on a way for the sport to recognize Jules. You may want to look at that.

Keep your good articles coming -- I read them all."

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