Schumacher’s doctor treating Bianchi
The 25-year-old Formula 1 driver, Jules Bianchi, was severely injured in an horrific crash during the 2014 Japanese Formula 1 GP this past Sunday. He incurred a traumatic brain injury when his F1 race car ran off the track in rain and underneath a heavy vehicle-recovery tractor.
According to his parents, his condition is critical yet stable and the medical team had this to add: “Jules suffered a diffuse axonal injury and is in a critical but stable condition. The medical professionals at the hospital are providing the very best treatment and care and we are grateful for everything they have done for Jules since his accident.”
After he sustained these injuries, the French surgeon who had treated Michael Schumacher – Gerard Saillant- was flown to Japan to help treat Bianchi. Alongside him was neurosurgeon from the University of Rome La Sapienza who went to Japan at the request of Scuderia Ferrari.
Horrifying footage has emerged (and since taken off YouTube by Formula 1) showing the moment Bianchi’s speeding car smashed into the stationary tractor-crane. A video, posted by a spectator on YouTube, shows his out-of-control Marussia slamming into the yellow vehicle, sparks flying as the body of the car slid underneath its raised rear.
The race organisers have come in for serious criticism over the timing of the race, which went ahead despite torrential downpours caused by an approaching typhoon. Drivers repeatedly complained that they could not see properly because of the spray and the fading light.