Latest F1 news in brief – Monday
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Jules Bianchi Sleepless F1 holds breath for Bianchi
- Bianchi remains in a 'critical' condition
- Bianchi 'incapable of breathing unassisted'
- Questions being asked after Bianchi crash
- Immediate success unlikely for Vettel at Ferrari – Lauda
- CVC "not pursuing" sale of F1 says Ecclestone
- DHL under fire for 'using' F1 Bianchi crash for 'likes'
Sleepless F1 holds breath for Bianchi
(GMM) The collective world of formula one had a sleepless night after the Japanese grand prix as it worries about critically injured Jules Bianchi.
After the likeable and talented Frenchman had brain surgery in the Mie hospital after his Suzuka collision with a recovery vehicle, specialist media reports claimed his condition was stabilizing and he was breathing unaided.
The Marussia driver's father Philippe told French television: "Jules is in a bad state.
"Emergency surgery was performed because of a hematoma in his head. It will take 24 hours until we know more."
But French radio RMC reported that 25-year-old Bianchi's condition subsequently deteriorated after the four-hour surgery, requiring a second operation in the middle of the night to stop bleeding.
The report also claimed Bianchi is now being artificially ventilated.
Former F1 driver Alex Wurz, the newly-appointed president of the safety-oriented grand prix drivers' association GPDA, told Austrian television ORF he has limited information about Bianchi's condition.
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport claims the impact was so strong it caused the recovery vehicle to drop Sutil's Sauber.
"We have heard he crashed into this towing vehicle and that the roll-bar was destroyed," said Austrian Wurz.
"Very shortly after the collision he was still conscious but then he became unconscious. All the time he was breathing alone and it was not necessary to resuscitate him.
"Whether this is good or bad news, I cannot judge because I'm not an expert," said Wurz.
Gary Hartstein, F1's former doctor and now an outspoken blogger, said that if it is true that Bianchi is breathing unaided, that is "really superb news".
"What is significant in the absence of other specific medical information is that this indicates how confident his surgeons and intensivists are that his neurological status is sufficiently stable to allow him that 'luxury', said Hartstein.
French media report that Bianchi's family has requested that no further official information be issued for the time being.
The L'Equipe daily quoted a French neurosurgeon as saying: "It is impossible at the moment to make a diagnosis. It is too early.
"In the coming days there will be a process of monitoring in order to make a reliable forecast."
Bianchi is under contract to Ferrari's driver 'academy', and a spokesman for the Italian team said at the Mie hospital late on Sunday: "There will be no official statement tonight in order to respect the wishes of the family."
Bianchi remains in a 'critical' condition
Jules Bianchi remains in a critical condition in ICU having undergone emergency surgery on Sunday night.
The Frenchman suffered a "severe head injury" when he hit a tractor in Sunday's Japanese GP.
The vehicle was in the gravel trap recovering Adrian Sutil's Sauber, who had gone off at Turn 7 moments before Bianchi lost control of his MR03 at the same corner in heavy rain.
Taken to the Mie Prefectural General Medical Centre in Yokkaichi, the nearest hospital to the track, the 25-year-old was diagnosed with a "severe" head injury and underwent surgery.
He was then transferred to ICU and although initial reports claimed he was breathing unaided, Sky Sports News is this morning reporting that he is on respirator.
According to the broadcaster, Bianchi is "still in a very critical condition" and is "still fighting for his life."
Craig Slater reports that he is "unfortunately breathing unaided. He still relies on a respirator that enables him to breath."
He also refuted rumors that Bianchi had a second operation, saying he has "not undergone a second surgical procedure."
As yet the hospital has refused to comment on the driver's condition, citing patient privacy and directing enquiries to the FIA.
Bianchi's father is believed to be on route, having previously told French TV that his son is in a critical condition.
"Jules is seriously injured," Philippe Bianchi told France 3 television on Sunday. "He is undergoing surgery for a head injury and we will need to wait 24 hours to know any more on his condition."
Marussia, meanwhile, have called for patience and understanding, saying it up to Bianchi's family what and how much information regarding his condition is released to the public.
The team said in a statement: "With regard to the communication of information confirming Jules' medical condition, we will respect, and be guided by, the wishes of the Bianchi family. Together with Jules' care, they will remain our highest priority.
"Therefore, we would ask for patience and understanding with regard to further medical updates, which will be communicated in conjunction with the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi, where Jules is being treated, when they feel it is appropriate." PlanetF1
Bianchi 'incapable of breathing unassisted'
Despite initial reports that claimed the 25-year-old was able to breathe without the assistance of the respirator, Sky Sports News have since confirmed that is not the case.
"We're not getting any official updates from the hospital but I understand that Jules is in a very critical condition, still fighting for his life, and I can clear up a couple of pieces of misinformation which have been picked up by the French media and a couple of outlets in the UK," Sky Sports News' Craig Slater reported on Monday morning.
"I can confirm that Jules is not, unfortunately, breathing unaided. My understanding is that he is still relying on a respirator at this point to be able to breathe.
"I can also confirm that he has not undergone a second surgical procedure. My understanding is that he went through one medical procedure at about 11pm Japanese time and he has been intensive care since then."
Questions being asked after Bianchi crash
(GMM) With the extent of Jules Bianchi's injuries still unclear, F1 is already turning its attention to the controversial circumstances surrounding his accident that stopped the wet Japanese grand prix on Sunday.
After days of speculation about typhoon Phanfone, multiple questions are now being asked about the Suzuka race that was interrupted by rain, safety car periods and eventually fading light.
"For me personally it wasn't (that bad)," winner Lewis Hamilton said.
However, after crashing his Sauber that ultimately was being carried away by the recovery vehicle that Bianchi hit, Adrian Sutil said the fading light was making it harder to pick out the most treacherous parts of the circuit.
"The light was low and the track was slippery and that's why I was caught out," said the German.
"Jules had exactly the same situation, just a lap later. The light was low and there were numerous rivers running across the track," added Sutil.
Felipe Massa, a friend of Bianchi's, revealed before leaving the track to visit the Frenchman in hospital that he was "screaming" on the radio "for the race to stop".
"It was dangerous," said the Brazilian.
"In my opinion they started the race too early because it was undriveable at the beginning," Massa added, "and they finished it too late."
But Kimi Raikkonen was among those who think Bianchi's crash was just a freak accident.
"We have competed in more difficult circumstances than that," the Finn is quoted by MTV3 broadcaster.
"I can't say if the track was safe or not, but everything was going ok before the race was stopped.
"Was it safe? Is it ever safe?
"It is always difficult in the wet and you can easily spin, especially on worn tires. I think there was a lot of bad luck in this situation.
"I think we should learn from this and make sure it doesn't happen again," the Ferrari driver added.
Actually, an incident eerily similar happened at the very same corner 20 years ago, when Martin Brundle badly injured a marshal who was attending to another crashed car in the similarly wet 1994 race.
"It is unfortunate that these cranes are on the track during a grand prix," said former F1 driver Olivier Panis.
"For years we have talked about it — that we don't want to see them on the track.
"It's a shame that we always have to wait for something serious to happen before we take these things seriously."
Bianchi's countryman said the incident on Sunday should at least now trigger a rule change.
"No tractors on the track unless there is a safety car or red flags," said Panis.
Brundle admitted Sunday's incident reminded him vividly of 1994.
"Some will say there are yellow or double yellows flags but that doesn't stop you spinning off," he said.
"My concern is those things (vehicles) on track. They are just too high and you are sitting down low."
Another former F1 driver, Patrick Tambay, told RMC: "We have made progress with the cars. We have made progress with the circuits.
"But then there was a tractor on the track and that is unacceptable."
Others are less severe. World champion Sebastian Vettel said every driver knows "that our sport is dangerous". Niki Lauda referred to a "chain of unfortunate circumstances".
"You cannot say that today something was (done) wrong," the F1 legend told Germany's Welt newspaper.
Wurz, representing the F1 drivers, added: "There are clearly many questions and hindsight is always smarter.
"It is clear however that the priority of the FIA over the years was the drivers when it comes to safety. I have to emphasize this.
"All the decisions taken by Charlie Whiting were absolutely fine. For many years the FIA has done a good job with safety and up until the accident everything was in order.
"If a car is out of control at high speed, it becomes a projectile. There is always risk. Everyone is aware of this.
Rob Smedley, the engineering boss at Williams, said the issue of cockpit protection has been discussed by F1 boffins ever since Felipe Massa's near-fatal 2009 crash.
"The chapter is not yet complete," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.
"I have no idea if an enclosed cockpit would have changed something for Jules, but at the moment I wish he had had one."
Smedley, however, also agrees that Bianchi is the victim of a "freak accident".
"There are certain crash tests but an impact with a tractor is not among them," he said. "It was simply a freak accident."
In a further tragic twist to a sad Sunday, it emerged that F1 veteran Andrea de Cesaris, 55, was killed in a motorcycle accident on a road near Rome.
Immediate success unlikely for Vettel at Ferrari – Lauda
(GMM) Sebastian Vettel's move to Ferrari may be good for the Italian team, but not so good in the short term for the reigning world champion.
That is the claim of F1 legend Niki Lauda, who despite being Mercedes' team chairman admitted that news German Vettel is leaving Red Bull caught him by surprise at Suzuka.
"Yes (it did)," he told the Austrian newspaper Osterreich. "Or at least the date of the announcement did. No one in Suzuka expected it.
"Vettel apparently told his team on Friday night at half past eight that he's going. Without warning.
"For me there is only one question — did he tell Didi Mateschitz beforehand? If he did, everything is fine," said Lauda.
He insists, however, that the manner of Vettel's announcement shows that he no longer has a good relationship with Red Bull's leading figures — even Dr Helmut Marko.
"As you know now," Lauda said, "he didn't tell them (of his decision)."
But, if Vettel concluded that Red Bull was "no longer working" for him, Lauda said he was right to "seek a new motivation".
That new motivation is the crisis-struck Ferrari, set to rebuild in the wake of a string of key departures including that of Fernando Alonso.
La Repubblica claims Vettel has signed a three-year contract worth EUR 60 million in total, with an option for a further two seasons through to 2019.
The report said the 27-year-old can also earn more for winning races and titles, and that he had been negotiating with the Italian team including Fiat chairman Sergio Marchionne since as long ago as August.
"It is a new beginning for Ferrari after years of crisis," Lauda insisted. "It is like Schumacher — now they have a four-time world champion that everyone can look up to."
But it will take time for the partnership to work, he warned.
Asked if Vettel can now challenge for the title in red, Lauda answered: "Probably not. It will take longer than that for them to have a car good enough."
He also does not understand why Ferrari and Vettel have not still not announced their obvious new partnership officially.
"I don't understand why they were too stupid not to react immediately," said Lauda.
"When they were surprised by the Red Bull press release, they should have just said 'Vettel is coming to us'."
The next question is what the Ferrari-departing Alonso will do, with Lauda declaring confidently that the Spaniard's contract was terminated on both sides last Thursday.
Germany's Sport Bild claims McLaren-Honda is offering him an incredible $40 million per season, but that supremo Ron Dennis is asking for at least a two-year commitment.
The report said Alonso is warning that he is prepared to take 2015 off altogether, perhaps to contest the fabled Le Mans race next year with his friend Mark Webber.
CVC "not pursuing" sale of F1 says Ecclestone
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone says that the sport's owner, the private equity firm CVC, is not actively looking at selling its controlling stake according to an article in the Daily Telegraph by Christian Sylt.
CVC is the single-biggest shareholder in F1 and holds a 35% stake. It invested in the sport in 2005 and, as Pitpass revealed in July, it has to sell up by 2018 at the latest. However, recent reports suggested that it has fast-tracked its plans.
CVC hoped to float F1 on the Singapore stock exchange in 2012 but the Eurozone crisis put the brakes on its plan. It stayed in the pits as the prospect of a bribery trial in Munich hung over Ecclestone. However, the clouds cleared in August when the trial was settled and the judge in Munich declared that "the charges could not, in important areas, be substantiated." It fuelled claims that CVC would accelerate its plans to sell its stake.
Just three days ago news agency Bloomberg claimed that CVC had revived plans for a flotation in the event that talks to sell the series fall apart. The most likely buyer is reportedly the team of Discovery, the media network which is famous for the nature channel it is named after, and Liberty Global, the owner of Virgin Media. The connection between the two is American billionaire John Malone as Liberty is his company and he also controls 29% of the voting power in Discovery.
Earlier this year Pitpass revealed that the duo had requested access to private information about F1's finances though a bid would almost certainly face competition hurdles which restrict media networks from owning sports. According to Ecclestone Malone is still interested regardless.
"I don't think anything has changed. I think Malone still wants to do something," he says. "It's incredible to me why people take so long to do something they say they want to do." Liberty may have even left it too late as he adds "I don't think CVC are going to pursue a sale actively. Not by the end of the year for sure."
The reason that Malone still has his sights on F1 is laid bare in the Telegraph article. It reveals that last year F1's profits accelerated past the £300m mark on revenue of £1bn driven by new sponsorship deals signed with Rolex and Emirates. Pitpass.com
DHL under fire for 'using' F1 Bianchi crash for 'likes'
The company, which is F1’s official logistics partner, posted some photos of Bianchi on the Facebook page, 'Formula 1 Backstage by DHL', along with the text, "Ghastly accident in Japan. Jules Bianchi is fighting for his life. By clicking 'like' on this occasion, you'll be sending Jules your best wishes for a speedy recovery."
The post has apparently since been deleted, but one of the photos used remains on the Facebook page and has a number of angry responses.
Meanwhile, screen grabs of the original post are circulating on Twitter and are being met with widespread disgust.
The furor follows a serious accident at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday 5 October in which French driver Bianchi spun off the Suzuka track into a recovery vehicle, which was attending an earlier accident.