Rest in peace, Jules Bianchi! (August 3, 1989 - July 17, 2015)

All our thoughts with you and your family. 

Tribute to Jules Bianchi

JULES BIANCHI, FORMULA 1 DRIVER; DEAD AT 25.

While I’m a fan of football and professional wrestling, as people who watch this channel and talk to me know; I’ve been a fan of Formula 1 motor racing longer than both of them. It’s a sport that my family have been fans of since its inception, with many of our gatherings revolving around the Sunday lunch, with the F1 being coupled with it. It’s a sport has provided me with many memories, and has given me much entertainment since I started following it in 1996.

One thing I’ve always been aware of, is how dangerous F1 is. There have been many horrific crashes in its history, with many careers cut short to injury. There have also been some that have resulted in fatalities. In my lifetime of watching the sport, the rising of safety standards after the deaths of rookie Roland Ratzenberger, and 3-time World Champion Ayrton Senna at Imola in 1994 have meant we’ve gotten used to seeing drivers get out of the heaviest crashes unscathed. Nevertheless, I watch F1 races with a sense of fear, wondering if something could go wrong; and that we would see another death in a sport so homogenised by health and safety in the modern day. For many years, no matter the crash… ranging from Enrique Bernoldi’s high impact with the tyre wall at the 2001 Belgian Grand Prix and Robert Kubica’s horrific smash at the 2006 Canadian Grand Prix to the sight of Kimi Raikonnen’s Ferrari nearly colliding with multiple cars at the 2014 British Grand Prix, I never thought it would ever happen. However, today, July 18th 2015, we have had sad conformation that those fears have finally come to fruition… and its a chilling thing to come to terms with. For the first time in my lifetime of watching this sport, a driver has died as the result of an incident in a Formula 1 race.

The 2014 Japanese Grand Prix race day will forever remain lodged in my brain, I’d woken up early for a race for the first time in a long time, had been entertained by the rain causing havoc with race strategies and giving some bold overtaking manoeuvres a change to be had. The sight of Adrian Sutil’s Sauber car aquaplaning off the track didn’t surprise me, as the monsoon conditions were causing problems for all concerned. However, upon seeing the camera flash back to the incident, crane now in tow with Marussia Driver Jules Bianchi’s name coming across the screen, a sudden chill went down my spine. Noting the commentators tone of voice changing and a flurry of cameras focusing on the scene, it became apparent that something had gone wrong. Bianchi’s Marussia car had hit the crane after aquaplaning at the same corner Sutil went off at. The result of this crash caused the race to be red flagged as we waited for news of Jules condition, as a panicked at whether he had passed away. While he hadn’t, what we would come to learn is that it would be unlikely despite being in a coma, that he would survive. Even with the wonderful work of the medical team in Nice, the support of his loving family, fans and members of the motorsport fraternity… the injury was just too severe to overcome; 9 months later.

Jules was a rising star, getting Marussia their only points at the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix. He drove the car that was firmly lodged at the back of the grid with determination and contrition. He knew what the car was capable of and routinely surprised fans and fellow drivers by pushing it further than many thought possible. He was touted as a future driver for many teams, with me believing a spot at Sauber, Force India and Lotus possibly being on the cards for his future; especially after his Monaco heroics in a car that every commentator writes off every weekend. While his teammate Max Chilton often finished races, it was Bianchi who was able to showcase his natural flair and determined driving style to grasp our attention and believe in what he could do if given a better car…

Sadly… we are never going to be able to see what the rest of this Frenchman’s career would entail. It’s numbing to have reflect on a career that was only just started, be cut short before our eyes. While it did take 21 years for this sport to have another fatality and 9 months since the accident for Jules to pass on… it doesn’t make it any less tragic than any of the Formula 1 deaths that have happened since its inception in 1950.

Along with the entire motorsport community, my thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathy are with the Bianchi family this morning. Your loss is heartbreaking, and we feel your pain. We will support you any way we can. As we head to the Hungaroring in under a weeks time, the sport will go on… with a sobering reminder of its dangers being brought sadly to reality once again.

FORZA JULES, you will never be forgotten.

some old F1 ∟ Ronnie Peterson

Today’s deal: 20% off all phone cases. Deals still running on pillows and totes, too. More to come throughout the week. If you’ve been thinking about getting a new case, now is the time.

*organizes life at 3am*

Niki Lauda in Germany 1976

fullthrottleauto:

Ferrari 458 Speciale (by mjfotografiehv.nl)…

McLaren: Team Ink

There we go then

Sebastian Vettel has named his first Ferrari “Eva” :)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kimi Raikkonen 

And here we have Bruno demonstrating how to look bored in a race suit and tourist hat.

Australian GP 2015 

Watch adds: One even more uncomfortable than the other