How The 2014 Japanese Grand Prix Ended In The Worst Possible Way
The 2014 Japanese Grand Prix started bright and early on October 5, 2014, at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan. Like any other Grand Prix, there were 44 laps to run throughout the day—but this time, they would see a dark cloud fall over Formula One with the tragic passing of Jules Bianchi, an Italian racer for Ferrari. Let's look at one of the darkest days in recent F1 memory.
The Day Begins
The 2014 Japanese Grand Prix began as it had the previous week: wet and windy. Typhoon Phanfone had arrived, dumping 16.4 inches of rain over mainland Japan. As a result, the track was wet, and there was plenty of standing water.
Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, Wikipedia
Cars Use Full Wet Tires
Whenever there is a large amount of standing water, Formula One cars use a type of tire known as "Full Wet Blue". This tire is the most effective for dispelling large amounts of water while maintaining sufficient traction and contact with the road surface. Pirelli's Full Wet Blue tires are the most popular for F1 drivers to use on their cars.
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Standing Water Already Causing Issues
Despite the proper tires, the large amounts of standing water were already causing issues with visibility and heavy spray. As the race began behind the safety car at 3 pm, drivers struggled for grip and Marcus Ericsson lost control of his car on the first lap.
Complaints From Hamilton & Others Cause Stoppage
Into the second lap, Lewis Hamilton complained to race marshals about the poor visibility and driving conditions, causing all cars to be pulled off the track. The race was suspended for 20 minutes until the rain eased.
Ride Heights Increased To Reduce Risk
To reduce the risk of hydroplaning, all race cars had their ride heights raised by an inch or so. This is done by placing suspension arms or shims between the suspension and chassis of the car. Fortunately, the rain did ease up a few minutes into the third lap. Too late for Fernando Alonso, though, who was forced to retire due to an electrical issue in this lap.
Conflicting Weather Reports From Drivers
The Suzuka Race Circuit is an astonishing 3,608 miles long, with drivers in different positions in the race experiencing very different weather conditions. Hamilton and Jean-Éric Vergne—leading the pack—reported that conditions were clearing, meanwhile Sebastian Vettel and Felipe Massa reported that conditions were still poor.
Lukas Raich, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Where Is Jules Bianchi In All This?
Jules Bianchi had started the race in 17th place—in keeping with his placements over the last 15 races since March 2014. His highest finish that year had been in 9th place at the Monaco Grand Prix on May 25. Despite the late start, it's thought that Bianchi was languishing around 15th place for the first several laps. Although, conditions made it difficult for anyone to improve their positions all that much.
Lutz H, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Dry Lines Begin To Emerge
By the 22nd lap, the road's surface had begun to dry up some, with dry lines—the best racing lines for drivers to take around a course in dry conditions—beginning to emerge. In wet conditions, driver's take "wet lines", or a different route around a course to maximize their traction on the roadway.
Driver-Controlled Drag Reduction System Enabled
As rains eased, race organizers and umpires allowed for the use of Drag Reduction Systems (DRS), a driver-controlled device fitted to most F1 cars, designed to aid drivers in overtaking and increasing "wheel-to-wheel" racing by opening up the rear wing flaps of a car to reduce drag and increase speed. DRS is either enabled or disabled based on racing conditions.
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Lap 41 See Conditions Deteriorate
In the 41st lap, another band of heavy rain moved in, causing DRS to be disabled on all cars, allowing for drivers to accommodate the wetter conditions and fading light. Heavy clouds had also moved in, further reducing visibility.
Nick Webb, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Drivers Experience Poor Visibility In The Cockpit Too
F1 cars are equipped with lights on their steering wheels, with different buttons and presses performing different functions that the drivers can control. In the dark or low-light conditions, these hubs light up. Despite helmets, drivers experienced a "dazzling" effect from their steering wheel lights, even further reducing visibility.
Habeed Hameed, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sutil Hydroplanes Into A Tire Barrier
German racer Adrian Sutil was also struggling with race conditions and hydroplaned into a tire barrier on the seventh turn of lap 42, atop a hill. This caused the release of double yellow flags on the course, warning drivers of the hazards ahead. The protocol here is usually to reduce speed and drive more conservatively.
Dan Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Mobile Cranes Move To Sutil's Destroyed Car
Mobile cranes are often used to extract damaged or wrecked cars from the track. After Sutil had safely exited his vehicle, a mobile crane was deployed to the turn to extract Sutil's Sauber race car. The crane positioned itself backwards, toward a gap in the barrier to perform the difficult extraction.
Lukas Raich, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Jules Bianchi Loses Control
While the crane was still in the process of extracting Sutil's damaged car, with its tires pointing out toward the off-area of the track. Bianchi lost control of his Marussia Ferrari at a staggering 132 mph, veering off-track to the right, straight toward the crane.
Habeed Hameed, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bianchi Brakes Unsuccessfully
Although Bianchi applied his brakes and throttle simultaneously—a procedure intended to instantly sever the electronic connection between the accelerator and the engine, and provide more effective braking at high speeds—an investigation of his car would reveal that the fail-safe had failed. His brake-by-wire system was incompatible.
Morio, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Impact
Jules Bianchi smashed into the rear-left wheel of the crane at 132 mph, causing the crane to jolt off the ground. The impact also broke the connection between the crane and Sutil's car, which crashed to the ground. Nearby race marshals scattered, narrowly avoiding being hit by flying debris.
Derrick Noh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Huge Amount Of Force
Onboard sensors from Bianchi's destroyed Marussia Ferrari indicated that the force exerted through the car was a stunning 2,490m/s, or 254 g force. In the car, Bianchi would have felt like he was being pulled down by a force that was 254 times his weight. Bianchi's earpieces measured a force of 92 g (92 times his weight in downward force) whilst they were falling out of his ears following the impact.
Extrication Made Difficult
Unconscious, Jules Bianchi needed medical attention (and fast). The mangled car made extrication difficult and the awful weather meant that a helicopter landing was impossible. Thus, Bianchi was treated at the race track before being transported by ambulance to the circuit's medical center. After being somewhat stabilized, Bianchi was taken to Mie Prefecture General Hospital by police escort. This was a 32-minute drive from the track.
Norimasa Hayashida, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Two Red Flags Bring The Curtain Down On The 2014 Japanese Grand Prix
After Bianchi was transported off-site, two red flags were waved, bringing the race to a premature end on the 46th lap, seven laps before it was scheduled to finish. Tragedy had struck and to continue the race would have been impossible.
Joe Barbosa, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
No Champagne At The Finish
As Jules Bianchi was clinging to life, no champagne was sprayed at the podium, as is customary among the three top-placed finishers. The top three— Hamilton, Vettel, and Rosberg—wished Bianchi a speedy recovery and commented on a difficult race weekend.
Bianchi's Father Updates The World On His Son's Condition
Over the next few hours, the F1 world held its collective breath, waiting for news of the severely injured Bianchi. The first news came from Bianchi's father, Philippe, who reported to sport news outlet L'Equipe that his son was in critical condition with a head injury and was undergoing emergency surgery for cranial bleeding. Hours later, the Federation Internationale De L'Automobile reported that Bianchi would be admitted to an intensive care unit after the surgery.
QNET, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Traumatic Brain Injury Had Occurred
One day after the race, following a successful surgery, doctors reported that Bianchi had sustained a traumatic brain injury known as a diffuse axonal injury, or DAI. DAI occurs when brain lesions (from the brain being jolted around inside the skull) occur over an extensive area, including over areas where the central nervous system is controlled from.
Takayuki Suzuki, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Common & Always Life-Altering Or Fatal
A diffuse axonal injury is one of the most common brain injuries associated with rapid deceleration, as had occurred in Bianchi's crash, going from 123 mph to zero in a fraction of a second. 90% of patients that suffer DAI are left in a comatose state and never wake up.
Derrick Noh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bianchi Is Comatose
Unfortunately, Jules Bianchi would join that 90% fatality rate. Lying comatose for a whole month on a medical ventilator, Bianchi's friends and family were given brief hope when he began breathing on his own well enough to be removed from the ventilator in November. He was moved to a hospital in Nice, France.
QNET, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Unconscious For Nine Months
Jules Bianchi would remain in an unconscious state for nine months following his removal from a medically-induced coma. On July 13, 2015, Bianchi's father said he was "less optimistic" about his son's survival. Jules Bianchi passed away four days later, on July 17, 2015, at the age of 25.
Ederolland EdR, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The First Death Since Senna
Bianchi's tragic crash would be the first F1 death in a Grand Prix since the infamous crash that ended the life of Ayrton Senna in 1994. Bianchi's funeral was held on July 21 at Nice Cathedral in France, attended by friends, family and many members of the F1 community.
Instituto Ayrton Senna, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Was Anyone To Blame?
In the immediate aftermath of Bianchi's crash (even though he had not yet passed away), racing pundits immediately sought to lay blame on someone for Bianchi's crash. Race organizers and the FIA were among those targeted with blame for the crash.
Andrew Locking, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Safety Panel Is Convened To Investigate
A 10-man safety panel was convened by the FIA to investigate the cause of the crash. They concluded that more safety measures, such as reinforcements to the car, a closed cockpit, and/or reinforcing Bianchi's helmet would not have saved his life. This extraordinary finding prompted a lawsuit from the Bianchi family.
Ank kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
FIA Report Clears F1 Of Wrongdoing
The subsequent report produced by the FIA cleared Formula One of any wrongdoing in the suit, instead citing that Bianchi "failed to slow sufficiently" despite the presence of yellow flags. Victim-blaming did not sit well with the Bianchi family, who ultimately lost the suit against FIA. But they did sue tire providers Goodyear and Penske for negligence, receiving a $9.6 million settlement.
Nic Redhead, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Who Was Really To Blame?
Jules Bianchi's death was definitely avoidable. While everyone will be pointing fingers at the FIA, it's apparent that the track's conditions and inclement weather made driving all the more hazardous. However, the evidence points to negligence on the part of the race organizers.
Henry Mineur, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
They Ignored Suggestions From FIA's Chairman
Upon seeing the track's conditions and the weather deteriorating, FIA race director Charles Whitling suggested to the organizers that the race time be moved to allow the bad weather to pass. They ignored his suggestions. Honda, who owned the race track at Suzuka also ignored Whitling, not wanting to move the race time to allow spectators to arrive at Suzuka. There were just 150,000 spectators in total that day.
It appears that the dangerous combination of weather and track conditions that contributed to Jules Bianchi's death could have been mitigated. Bianchi's death was preventable, had race organizers and Honda listened to Charles Whitling.
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Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
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