Marussia will run a single car for the duration of the
forthcoming Grand Prix weekend in Sochi, Russia out of respect for its driver
Jules Bianchi, who remains in hospital in Yokkaichi, Japan, in a critical but
stable condition. This was stated by Marussia in a press note.
“We have written to the Stewards of the Meeting to inform
them that we have withdrawn our second car. Notwithstanding the presence in
Sochi of Alexander Rossi, the nominated Official Reserve Driver for the 2014
Russian Grand Prix, the Team feels strongly that fielding a single car, that of
driver number 4, Max Chilton, is the appropriate course of action under the
difficult circumstances of the weekend,” statement read.
“Jules' car crew have built a second car, which has been
scrutineered and is ready to race, and this will remain on his side of the
garage throughout the weekend. In support of Jules and his family, the Team and
its cars will carry the familiar #JB17 graphic, to ensure that, although Jules
is not with us in Sochi this weekend, he is, nonetheless, racing on with the
Marussia F1 Team,” it added.
Max Chilton #4 noted that "I don't know how to put into
words how truly devastated I am by what has happened to Jules. The support from
the F1 family has been incredible & all we can do is be there to support
Jules' family at this difficult time. It is going to be a very emotional weekend
for the whole Team, but we will try to get through it and keep praying for
Jules."
Jules Bianchi, Formula One driver for Marussia team who was
critically injured in the F1race on October 5, 2014 at the Suzuka circuit in
Japan is reported to be still in the Intensive Care Unit of the General Medical
Center in Yokkaichi, Japan. According to
a statement made by Bianchi’s family, he “suffered a diffuse axonal injury and
is in a critical but stable condition”
According to medical experts, Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is
one of the most common and devastating types of traumatic brain injury. The
damage in this case occurs over a more widespread area than in focal brain
injury. DAI, which refers to extensive lesions in white matter tracts, is one
of the major causes of unconsciousness and persistent vegetative state after
head trauma. It occurs in about half of all cases of severe head trauma. The
outcome, experts say, is frequently coma, with over 90pc of patients with
severe DAI never regaining consciousness. Those who do wake up often remain
significantly impaired, experts observe.
Bianchi was operated after he sustained severe head injuries
when his car crashed into a recovery vehicle that had come to lift the stalled
Sauber car of Adrian Sutil.
Picture of Jules Bianchi, courtesy Marussia