Monthly Archives: July 2015

The FIA has confirmed that Jules Bianchi’s number 17 will no longer be used in the F1 World Championship. The news comes ahead of the Frenchman’s funeral in Nice tomorrow.

Since last season drivers have chosen a number that lasts for the whole of their career in the category.

An FIA statement said: “Jean Todt, President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, announced that the car number 17 will be retired from the FIA Formula One World Championship in honour of Jules Bianchi.

“As F1 car numbers are now personally chosen by each driver, the FIA believes it to be an appropriate gesture to retire Jules Bianchi’s number 17.

“As a result, this number can no longer be used for a car competing in the FIA Formula One World Championship.”

The Grand Prix Drivers Association has paid tribute to Jules Bianchi, and vowed to continue its push to improve safety in the sport.

The organisation said in a statement: “Formula 1 has lost a great talent, a great man and a great friend today. Twenty-one years after the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, we have now lost Jules, who has died as a direct consequence of an on track accident.

“It is at times like this that we are brutally reminded of how dangerous racing still remains. Despite considerable improvements, we, the Grand Prix drivers, owe it to the racing community, to the lost ones and to Jules, his family and friends, to never relent in improving safety.

“Our sincerest condolences go out to Jules’ family and friends.”

Manor F1 team boss John Booth has paid tribute to his former driver Jules Bianchi, who passed away last night.

Bianchi drove for the former Marussia team in 2013 and 2014, and was already well known to Manor when he was a competitor in his Euro F3 days.

In a statement Booth said: “Words cannot describe the enormous sadness within our team this morning, as we come to terms with losing Jules. He has left an indelible mark on all our lives, and will forever be part of everything we have achieved, and everything we will strive for going forward.

“Jules was a shining talent. He was destined for great things in our sport; success he so richly deserved. He was also a magnificent human being, making a lasting impression on countless people all over the world. They recognised, as did we, that at the same time as being a fiercely motivated racer, he was also an extremely warm, humble and intensely likeable person, who lit up our garage and our lives.

“We are incredibly grateful that we were able to provide Jules with the opportunity to show the world what he could do in a Formula 1 car. We knew we had a very special driver on our hands from the first time he drove our car in pre-season testing in 2013. It has been an honour to be able to consider him our race driver, our team-mate, and of course our friend.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the wonderful Bianchi family, who have remained so strong for Jules throughout the past nine months. In turn, Jules was an absolute credit to them.

“Finally, we would like to thank everyone who has supported Jules since his accident in Japan last October. Your kindness has been such a source of comfort to his family and to us, his team. We will rely on your continued support over the coming days and months as we race on for Jules.”

Jules Bianchi passed away last night at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Nice, his family has announced.

The Frenchman, who was 25, had been transferred to his home town after spending the first few weeks after his Japanese GP accident in Yokkaichi.

A statement from the family said: “Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end. The pain we feel is immense and indescribable. We wish to thank the medical staff at Nice’s CHU who looked after him with love and dedication. We also thank the staff of the General Medical Center in the Mie Prefecture (Japan) who looked after Jules immediately after the accident, as well as all the other doctors who have been involved with his care over the past months.

“Furthermore, we thank Jules’ colleagues, friends, fans and everyone who has demonstrated their affection for him over these past months, which gave us great strength and helped us deal with such difficult times. Listening to and reading the many messages made us realise just how much Jules had touched the hearts and minds of so many people all over the world.

“We would like to ask that our privacy is respected during this difficult time, while we try to come to terms with the loss of Jules.”

As expected the FIA World Motor Sport Council has addressed the issue of power ubit penlties, as mandated by the Strategy Group last week.

From Hungary onwards the maximum penalty a driver can receive for changing power unit elements is starting from the back of the grid, so time penalties, drive throughs and stop and go penalties have gone.

In addition a fifth extra engine has been granted for manufacturers in their first year, which will apply to Honda.

The World Council said: “The simplification of the power unit penalties, ensuring that the most a driver can be penalised is to be demoted to the rear of the grid – this will eliminate penalties during the race for these infractions.

“New power unit manufacturers to F1 will receive an extra power unit for each driver to use throughout Grands Prix for the season, bringing the total to five – one more than the existing power unit suppliers. This will be applied retrospectively to Honda. These changes to the sporting regulations will come into force with immediate effect.”

In addition the WMSC has looked at the new F1 Super Licence system, which is based upoj points accrued via success in various categories. The WMSC has approved the update of the Super Licence regulations with a view to:

“Increasing flexibility for drivers having qualified for a Super Licence, but do not have the opportunity to race in Formula One. These drivers will now keep this possibility for three years (eg. typical F1 test driver situation).

“Enlarging the list of Series included in the Super Licence point system following numerous requests from series for inclusion.

“Adjusting of points given to some series already included to better reflect the strength of series.

“Granting the champion of the FIA Formula E Championship with a Super Licence, although the Championship is not part of the points system.”

The FIA has confirmed a 21-race F1 schedule for 2016 – which will be the busiest in the sport’s history.

As expected the event in Baku, Azerbaijan has been added in July, while the German GP is back after missing this year.No venue is listed but it will be at Hockenheim.

The other major changes are that the Russian GP has moved from October to May, as the fourth race of the season, while Malaysia has moved to September, and is now twinned with Singapore.

2016 F1 World Championship Calendar