Bianchi family starts legal action against F1

The Bianchi family has begun legal action against Formula 1 organisers, the Marussia team and the FIA over what it terms as the “avoidable death” of Jules Bianchi.

Bianchi sustained serious head injuries that eventually led to his death last July when his Marussia collided with a recovery vehicle in the closing stages of the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.

Following the tragedy, the FIA’S accident panel conducted an investigation and produced a report on the accident and the events leading up to it. The race at Suzuka in 2014 was affected by the impending arrival of Typhoon Phanfone, with heavy rain and fading light blighting the closing stages.

The panel ruled that Bianchi “did not slow sufficiently to avoid losing control” when he crashed as marshals worked to clear Adrian Sutil’s stranded Sauber.

Bianchi’s family has now launched legal action against Formula One Management, the FIA and the Marussia team in an effort to clear Bianchi’s name.

His father Phillipe said: “We seek justice for Jules, and want to establish the truth about the decisions that led to our son’s crash. As a family, we have so many unanswered questions and feel that Jules’ accident and death could have been avoided if a series of mistakes had not been made.”

Stewarts Law partner Julian Chamberlayne, who is representing the Bianchi family, added: “Jules Bianchi’s death was avoidable. The FIA Panel Inquiry Report made numerous recommendations to improve safety, but failed to identify where errors had been made.

“It was surprising and distressing to the Bianchi family that the FIA panel in its conclusions, whilst noting a number of contributing factors, blamed Jules.

“The Bianchi family are determined that this legal process should require those involved to provide answers and to take responsibility for any failings. This is important if current and future drivers are to have confidence that safety in the sport will be put first.”