F1 Drivers pay tribute to Bianchi

Jules Bianchi tribute

The GP is the first race since Bianchi passed away last week, and the motoring world stopped for one minute to pay their respects to the French driver.

Grand Prix victor Sebastian Vettel said the win is dedicated to Bianchi and his family.

“You are always in our hearts, sooner or later we know you would have been in this team,” Vettel said.

“We know it’s been an incredibly tough week, and for all of us very difficult, so this one is for him.”

Fifteen minutes before the race began, drivers and crews formed a circle around their helmets and stood for a minutes silence, joined by Bianchi’s father, mother, brother and sister.

In a race that Lewis Hamilton described as “one of the worst performances” of his career, Australian Daniel Ricciardo finished with a podium finish after clashing with the leading Nico Rosberg.

Ricciardo also paid tribute to Bianchi after the race.

“I left it all on the track, I put my heart into everything today and I think that’s the way Jule would’ve wanted it,” Ricciardo said.

“I owe that race to him and I’m very grateful to be on the podium.”

Bianchi failed to regain consciousness late last week, a year on from his horrific crash at Suzuka. The Frenchman was severly injured when his Marussia came into contact with a recovery crane at 126 km/h.

 

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