This must never happen again - Ecclestone

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

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