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On this day, July 17th, 2015, Formula 1 tragically lost Jules Bianchi, who passed away at the age of 25, nine months after his horrific crash during the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
The story of that 2014 race in the Land of the Rising Sun is well-known. It took place under extremely challenging weather conditions, brought on by Typhoon Phanfone, which struck Japan that day.
Bianchi went off track at Turn 7 on lap 42, colliding with a recovery vehicle that was in the run-off area to retrieve Adrian Sutil's car, which had crashed at the same spot laps earlier. The impact caused Bianchi to suffer a severe head injury, and after a nine-month coma, he succumbed to his injuries.
Bianchi's accident served as a catalyst for significant safety improvements in Formula 1 cars. One of the most notable changes came in 2018 with the introduction of the Halo device, which has since saved countless lives in Formula 1 and in junior categories that have gradually adopted the safety feature.
In honor of Bianchi, Formula 1 retired car number 17, which the Frenchman raced with in 2014. This was the first season where drivers were allowed to choose their career numbers, and Bianchi had opted for number 17.
Bianchi's legacy also lives on through his godson, Charles Leclerc, who currently races for Ferrari. It was on Bianchi's recommendation that the Scuderia brought the Monegasque driver into their academy, and he later became the first academy graduate to secure a full-time seat at Ferrari. Had Bianchi's fatal accident not occurred, the Frenchman himself would have had that honor, as acknowledged by former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo.
To this day, Bianchi remains the last driver to lose his life following an incident in Formula 1.
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