Bianchi’s father ‘less optimistic’ about Jules’ recovery

Jules Bianchi’s father Philippe admits he feels “less optimistic” about his son’s recovery from the serious head injuries he sustained during last year’s Japanese Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old has been in a coma for nine months since his Marussia collided with a recovery vehicle during a rain-hit Suzuka race. While Bianchi keeps fighting for his life in a Nice hospital, his family, who remains at his bedside, confesses the situation has not improved.

“This is unbearable and feels like a daily torture,” Philippe Bianchi told French radio station France Info. “Sometimes, we just think we’re going crazy. For me, it’s certainly worse than if he had passed away in the accident. Because there’s simply nothing more we can do to help him further.”

“As time goes by, I’m feeling less optimistic compared to how I might have been two or three months after the accident when we could hope for a better evolution.”

“It’s really painful to wake up every single morning not knowing whether our son will live another day or not. At some point, you also need to remain well grounded and admit the seriousness of the situation.”

“Our very bright son, with whom we spoke on the phone every day, was living his dream and traveling the world. And all of a sudden, he is fighting between life and death on a hospital bed.”

Though he still hopes for a positive outcome, Bianchi Sr worries his son could suffer some heavy long-term after-effects if he were to finally awake from his coma.

“Should Jules find himself with severe handicaps, we’re quite convinced that this is not what he would want.

“We had actually broached on the topic and he had told us that if he were to suffer an accident like Michael Schumacher, that if he simply lost the ability to drive, then it would have been very hard for him to accept the situation. Because it was his life.”

Despite the grim situation, the Bianchis say they are able to draw strength from the countless marks of compassion they have received since their son’s accident.

“We have had so much support, so many messages and we’re sorry not to be able to respond to everybody. It’s a tremendous boost for us and this undoubtedly gives plenty of energy to Jules too.”

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