Jules Bianchi is currently undergoing surgery after a CT scan revealed he had suffered a severe head injury during today’s Japanese GP.

In an official statement issued in the wake of today's race the FIA said:

"On lap 42, Adrian Sutil lost control of his car, spun and hit the tyre barrier on the outside of Turn 7. The marshals displayed double yellow flags before the corner to warn drivers of the incident.

A recovery vehicle was despatched in order to life the car and take it to a place of safety behind the guardrail. Whilst this was being done the driver of car 17, Jules Bianchi, lost control of his car, travelled across the run-off area and hit the back of the tractor.

Once the marshals reported that the driver was injured, medical teams were despatched and the Safety Car was deployed. These were followed by an extrication team and an ambulance to Mie General Hospital.

The CT scan shows that he has suffered a severe head injury and he is currently undergoing surgery. Following this he will be moved to intensive care where he will be monitored.

Mie General hospital will issue an update as soon as further information becomes available."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Renone, 06/10/2014 18:37

"I do not believe it is appropriate to allow a service vehicle such as a mobile recovery crane beyond the barriers under waved yellows. Sutil's car was on the outside of turn 7, therefore anyone else having an off would be more than likely heading in the same direction. In view of the track conditions the least that should have occurred was waved yellows AND white flag indicating service vehicle on track. I believe that if you are going to attempt to recover a car in a dangerous position the safety car should be deployed. This is a terrible accident which could have been even more tragic had a marshal also been injured. "

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2. Posted by Tom2681, 06/10/2014 15:46

"@FormerF1Fan:
In all fairness, cars already can't be at racing speeds on the track when there are double-waved yellows. As per the regulations.
To quote Brundle: Double yellows mean "slow down and be prepared to stop."
So it's up to the FIA to enforce the sporting regulations properly.
Maybe implement an FIA-controlled automatic speed limit in yellow-flag zones? Other series do it and it works well."

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3. Posted by FormerF1Fan, 06/10/2014 9:25

"Has it taken this to make the FIA realise that recovery vehicles and cars at racing speeds can't be on the track at the same time? Why wasn't the safety car brought out? Was it because of so many early laps with the safety car detracting from the spectacle? "The spectacle" - was that the reason for not using the safety car?? "

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4. Posted by nonickname, 06/10/2014 8:56

"It is a sad thing to have happened but I just hope that we now don't look at "closed" cockpits.
Recovery vehicles have always been a problem but at the end of the days the ones is on the driver. Waved/flashing yellow is the flag before the red flag and warns that extreme caution is needed.
The drivers have it in their hands to make a call if they feel that the conditions are too dangerous.Two of the bravest drivers of our time ,Lauda and Prost made the decision to pull out when the rain got too bad. Just wish he had done the same."

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5. Posted by flashpete, 06/10/2014 2:37

"Hindsight is always faultless, but Martin Brundle has often commented on the possible consequences of a single-seater racing car running into an emergency vehicle such as a mobile crane.

Now it has happened perhaps the FIA will do a rethink on recovery of crashed or otherwise immobile vehicles. "

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6. Posted by Kiwikaze, 06/10/2014 0:18

"Hopefully Jules pulls through, and fully recovers. And hopefully Charlie et.al takes heed, that something needs to be done about how vehicles are recovered from the track. It's always irked me that the recovery vehicles have no safety measures, such as deformable materials, around them. Waved yellow flags just aren't enough. "

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7. Posted by my tyres are going off, 05/10/2014 14:15

"Sad end to a great race. Good luck Jules my thoughts are with you"

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Bianchi suffers "severe head injury"

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