Formula One commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone pays tribute to the late Jules Bianchi by claiming the sport must do everything “not to let this ever happen again”.

Having fought in a coma for nine months, the Nice-born racer died aged 25 on Friday night from the severe head injuries he sustained during last year’s Japanese Grand Prix.

Bianchi’s Marussia went off track in wet conditions at Suzuka and hit the tractor crane that had been sent out a lap earlier to recover the stricken Sauber of Adrian Sutil on the outside of Turn 7.

“It was so sad to hear the news about Jules,” said Ecclestone. “We are now going to miss a very talented driver and a really nice person.

“We must not let this ever happen again.”

The 84-year-old thus shares the views of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, with the organisation vowing to “never relent in improving safety” following Bianchi’s death.

The Frenchman became the first casualty in the sport for over two decades; since the fateful 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend claimed the lives of both Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger.

Jules Bianchi: 1989 - 2015

F1 drivers pay tribute to Bianchi after death at 25

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

Perez reveals how he became Force India's unlikely saviour

Sergio Perez has revisited one of the most extraordinary off-track stories of his Formula 1…

11 hours ago

FIA expands straight-line mode at Spa – as Alonso sounds warning

Formula 1’s return to Spa-Francorchamps this weekend will introduce a striking new element to the…

12 hours ago

McLaren set for Mercedes engine upgrade at Spa and rear-wing trial

McLaren will arrive at the Belgian Grand Prix with a fresh opportunity to reset its…

14 hours ago

Michael bows to Mika on British GP podium

On this day in 2001 at the British GP at Silverstone, Formula 1 fans were…

15 hours ago

Bearman moved to tears after driving Senna’s iconic Lotus

The Silverstone pitlane has borne witness to countless moments of motorsport history, but recently, it…

16 hours ago

Steiner: Time for McLaren to ‘grow up’ and build its own engine

McLaren’s search for answers in Formula 1 has once again turned the spotlight onto its…

18 hours ago