F1 News & Rumors: Bernie Ecclestone Saddened By Jules Bianchi’s Death

Jul 20, 2015 09:25 AM EDT

(Photo : (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)) LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 16: Formula One Boss Bernie Ecclestone poses with The Lost Yeti Hunters Christopher Payne and Antonio D'Angelo and a Yeti to promote the start of the race which will see the team race to Mongolia in a second hand Skoda Fabia during the Mongol Rally Launch on July 16, 2015 in London, England.

Formula One (F1) Supremo Bernie Ecclestone has paid a heartfelt tribute following the announcement of Marussia driver Jules Bianchi's death. The 84-year-old expressed his anguish over the passing of the 25-year-old Frenchman via a statement released on F1's official website.

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"It was hard to hear the news about Jules," Ecclestone said. "We are now going to miss a very talented and a really nice person."

Ecclestone added that F1 should not let such a devastating accident occur again. Bianchi was the first race driver to pass away because of the injuries sustained from a Grand Prix accident since three-time F1 world champion Ayrton Senna, who was killed on May 1, 1994 during the San Marino Grand Prix.

Suzuka Circuit Accident

On Oct. 5, 2014 during the Japanese Grand Prix, Bianchi lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a crane that was attending to Adrian Sutil's Sauber. Sutil had crashed in the same spot prior. Following the accident, Bianchi had been admitted to the General Mie Hospital in Yokkaichi Japan in a coma condition. He stayed at the Japanese hospital for over month before he was stable enough to be transferred to a medical facility in his home town in Nice, France.

Nine months after the accident, Bianchi's family announced through a Facebook post that the 25-year-old had perished due to the severe injuries that he sustained from the crash. The family said in the statement that Bianchi has died at University Hospital of Nice, France. Jules' funeral will be held on July 21 at the Sainte Réparate Cathedral.

"Jules fought to the end as he has always done, but yesterday his battle ended," the statement said.

Bianchi at F1

Bianchi made his debut in F1 as a test driver for Sahara Force India in 2012. The following year, Bianchi was signed as a driver by Marussia. He completed the season and raced in19 Grand Prix events in 2013 with his best finish at the 13^th place during the Malaysian Grand Prix. He was 19^th in the 2014 F1 World Drivers' Championships standings. Last year, Bianchi raced for 15 Grand Prix races, his last at the Suzuka Circuit. Bianchi also raced for the Formula 3 Euro and Formula Renault 3.5 Series.

Tagsf1 supremo, bernie ecclesdon, Jules Bianchi, Marussia, formula 3.5 series, formula euro series