Romain Grosjean to pay tribute to Bianchi for Monaco GP

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Haas F1 Team driver Romain Grosjean will race next weekend with a special race helmet, the design of which will celebrate Jules Bianchi's ninth place finish in Monte-Carlo in 2014.

Grosjean introduced the new lid yesterday on his Twitter account.

Bianchi's outstanding performance in the Principality that year brought his team, Manor Marussia, their only championship points in the team four seasons of Formula 1.

It was a great achievement for the minnow outfit and its promising young driver and one which is still remembered with great affection and emotion by all those who witnessed it.

Romain Grosjean was well placed to appreciate his friend's exploit, having battled in the latter part of the race with his countryman around the streets of Monte-Carlo while driving for Lotus back then.

Bianchi actually finished ahead of the Grosjean but was demoted one spot because of a safety car infringement.

The talented young Frenchman, who many believed was on his way to Ferrari for 2015, suffered massive crash at the Japanese GP which left him in a coma from which he would never recover. Jules Bianchi passed away on July 17, 2015.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.