Was it Suzuka where Lauda drove into the pits after a few laps in 1974 saying it was too dangerous to continue? All Hunt had to do was finish 3rd. which he did.

He must have been going at a fair old speed to lift that tractor off of it's wheels

Also a wedge like effect

I once saw a smaller sports type car fly into the back of a merging SUV

on a public highway

He literally flipped the SUV over by going under the SUV's rear-end

The loader was already lighter than normal on the rear end as it had the weight of Sutil's car hanging off the front of it - but yeah, just like a wedge being driven between two hard objects.

If the kitty litter does not stop a car, then it's time they looked at something else.

No news so far today?

It is past 4 in the afternoon in Japan...

Maybe a press conference from the FIA in France this morning?

More probable there is no news and they are allowing the family to come to terms with the real facts before making them public, I suspect his injuries to be a lot more severe than Schumacher's.

Clearly any unofficial statement can be so wrong as reported by by the BBC early yesterday who reported he was out of surgery "And breathing unaided" which they later retracted, if he was breathing unaided that would have been a good sign.

Like everybody else I hope he pulls through.

I read on one of oilinki's news feeds that Jules family will have all the info

& see all the doctors. So maybe a statement may be released then?

If you look in this video, the marshal in the tower is waving double yellows at first when Sutil's car is being recovered, then during the recovery he starts waving green flag, many seconds after the impact by Jules he switches back to yellow and the SC board. Bizzare.

A hell of an impact though.

"https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10204871311565478"

Formula One Management are doing their best to remove the video. The green flag means the next section of track is clear, they say.

Very sad to read this tonight

Bianchi injuries confirmed, condition remains critical

"Jules remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi. He has suffered a diffuse axonal injury and is in a critical but stable condition.

Looking up his condition I saw this

Diffuse axonal injury

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is one of the most common and devastating types of traumatic brain injury, meaning that damage occurs over a more widespread area than in focal brain injury.

DAI, which refers to extensive lesions in white matter tracts, is one of the major causes of unconsciousness and persistent vegetative state after head trauma.It occurs in about half of all cases of severe head trauma.

The outcome is frequently coma, with over 90% of patients with severe DAI never regaining consciousness.Those who do wake up often remain significantly impaired.

Very sad to read this tonight

Bianchi injuries confirmed, condition remains critical

"Jules remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi. He has suffered a diffuse axonal injury and is in a critical but stable condition.

Looking up his condition I saw this

Diffuse axonal injury

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is one of the most common and devastating types of traumatic brain injury, meaning that damage occurs over a more widespread area than in focal brain injury.

DAI, which refers to extensive lesions in white matter tracts, is one of the major causes of unconsciousness and persistent vegetative state after head trauma.It occurs in about half of all cases of severe head trauma.

The outcome is frequently coma, with over 90% of patients with severe DAI never regaining consciousness.Those who do wake up often remain significantly impaired.

Not looking good is it?

Not looking good is it?

Wish I could disagree with you...

He seemed to be a promising driver who could have done a lot better with a better car.

Yes he was scheduled as Ferrari test driver next year too I think

Well I hope he somehow pulls thru & at least can have a good recovery

Well who thought this might happen?

http://www.f1today.net/en/news/hamilton-signs-for-mclaren-for-2015

Well who thought this might happen?

http://www.f1today.net/en/news/hamilton-signs-for-mclaren-for-2015

This rumour might just be a way for McLaren to have better negotiation options with Alonso. "Hey Alonso, you know, we have other options as well."

Was it Suzuka where Lauda drove into the pits after a few laps in 1974 saying it was too dangerous to continue? All Hunt had to do was finish 3rd. which he did.

Fuji 76 and as for the removal vehicles they all need to be the same at every circuit and there be a bolt on skirt kit as in concession go-karts that can be transported circuit to circuit.

This looks kind of cool. Much better than I imagined.

https://twitter.com/F1grid/status/520277072250679296

Update on Jules

http://en.espnf1.com/japan/motorsport/story/178509.html

From a Valention Rossi Interview & I have to agree.

I have no problem with the open cockpits,flags,lights,wet race etc.

But just think it was extremely dumb to bring a crane into a run off area during a race

That I think was the main problem with this incident.

“With respect to Bianchi, I’m so sorry, because I met him once at Maddona di Campiglio.

He is a very nice, young guy with great talent and it is a real shame.

He has had very bad luck, because the truck should not have been in the run-off area.

It was probably a mistake, because if a crane is working on a run-off area they should stop the race or at least bring out the safety car.”

FIA Canopy tests from 2011

From: http://thisisf1.com/2014/10/09/f1-cockpit-canopy-helped-bianchi-lowe/

Sochi Autodrom F1 track. The corner after the long straight, before the "wheel" might be a tricky one?

Marussia are running just one car this w/end as a gesture ti Jules.

Well who thought this might happen?

http://www.f1today.net/en/news/hamilton-signs-for-mclaren-for-2015

Well just looked at my calender and yesterday was not April the first..

I just do not buy it...

Lewis is in a better position at Mercedes, and under contract, I do not think he could pull out of a Mercedes contract unless they were eyeing up Vettle for an all German line up next year, and why would they want Vettle? maybe the Red Bull is not as good as a Mercedes but Vettles team mate has the same car.

maybe they are eyeing up Alonso? well we know that there is no way either of them [Lewis] would agree to be in the same team, would Nico agree to be officially the No 2 driver? no way and Alonso will not go anywhere unless he is the No 1 driver.

FIA Canopy tests from 2011

From: http://thisisf1.com/2014/10/09/f1-cockpit-canopy-helped-bianchi-lowe/

Seems a good idea... but... To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction.

Needs serious investigation, but down side will drivers be able to get out quickly? maybe they will have to be fitted with explosive bolts. and on an other thought why do not F1 cars have air bags?

And I doubt a fully enclosed cockpit would have save Jules from his honorific brain trauma.

Sochi Autodrom F1 track. The corner after the long straight, before the "wheel" might be a tricky one?

That is an interesting track...a bit odd & we will see if good for racing but different for sure.

Yes all that chatter on Lewis ....I wonder if it is all true? Goes against what he recently said when asked if Alonso was coming to Mercedes...

He said well I'm here & Nico is staying so I do not think so

I see lewis is driving well at Sochi. I'm looking forward to tonights Qualifying. Evidently there is a chance the screens could go blank due to the safety measures put in place for Putins visit. Evidently they are going to block certain wireless frequencies to stop the remote detonation of any bombs and as a lot of mikes and cameras now use wireless they could just stop broadcasting which will be a bummer.

I thought I read somewhere lewis had signed another contract with Mercedes ? He would be stupid to give up the best car on the track unless he knows something the rest of us don't

Fingers crossed for tonight and tomorrow

Yes I am in Hog Heaven this weekend as we have MotoGP in Japan

& F1 in Russia....Also times do not conflict so I get to see it all

One happy camper here

FIA answers to the Bianchi accident events.

http://www.grandprix247.com/2014/10/11/179982/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GrandPrix247+%28Grand+Prix+247%29

It would had been great if Valtteri Bottas would have taken the pole or at least got the front row. He did explain quite well, that he used the best of the tires maybe too early on the last lap and the best grip was lost at the end of lap.

It's quite amazing how many parameters the drivers and teams have to analyze when they try to figure out the best settings as well as best ways to drive through the corners.

Alonso just mentioned at the qualification interview that he has to take into account how the wind affects otherwise different corners. On top of that, there is rubber on the track, how much the sun heats different parts of the track and where at the shadows etc.

Well with the prize for best pole positions up for grab looks likely to be edge of the seat drama up until end of qualifying in Abu Dabai

The Article 6.7 of the updated 2014 F1 Sporting Regulations reads: "A trophy will be awarded to the driver who sets the most pole positions during the championship season (see Article 36.2). In the event of a tie the holder of the greatest number of second places will be taken into account and, if there is still the tie, the holder of the greatest number of third places and so on until a winner emerges.

At present we have Nico on 8 p1, 4 p2, 3 p3, and Lewis on 7 p1, 5 p2, 0 p3.

It's pretty much open and the only certainty is it will be a Mercedes driver, on thing for sure is Mercedes will have taken most of the silverware this season.

The piece on financing was an eye opener for me. :ex Ferrari? Are they for real?

Well Rosberg kind of pooched that 1st lap

If all the tracks are going to be that gentle on the cars and tyres, they might as well give out the trophies now.