Bianchi did not slow sufficiently, FIA report says

PARIS, (Reuters) – French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi did not slow sufficiently under warning flags before crashing at the Japanese Grand Prix, an International Automobile Federation (FIA) report found yesterday.

“Bianchi did not slow sufficiently to avoid losing control at the same point on the track as (Adrian) Sutil,” the report, released on the FIA’s website (www.fia.com) said.

Bianchi suffered the most serious F1 race injury since the death of Ayrton Senna in 1994 when he crashed into a recovery tractor in a wet Japanese Grand Prix on Oct. 5.

The Marussia driver, whose British-based team is no longer in business, remains unconscious and in a critical condition in hospital in southern France after being flown home last month.

“The car hit the crane at 126 kph”, and that medical services were not at fault,” the report added.