Marussia Formula One driver Jules Bianchi is in critical condition after crashing at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Bianchi was unconscious when he was taken to a nearby hospital following a crash during Sunday’s rain-shortened race and is undergoing emergency surgery after a scan revealed a severe head injury.
According to FIA officials, the 25-year-old Bianchi will be moved to intensive care where he will be monitored after the surgery.
The race was red-flagged with nine laps to go after Bianchi went off at Turn 7, where Sauber’s Adrian Sutil had crashed earlier.
The Sauber was being recovered by a crane when Bianchi went off.
Sutil indicated Bianchi’s car had hit the crane.
“I aquaplaned,” Sutil said. “The rain got more and more. One lap later with waved yellow flags, Jules came around and had the same spin there and that was it. It was the same crash but the outcome was different. The car came out to rescue my car and it all happened.”
“The CT scan shows that he has suffered a severe head injury and is currently undergoing surgery,” the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in an update on his condition. “Following this he will be moved to intensive care where he will be monitored."
Sunday’s race started at 3 p.m. local time. An approaching typhoon led to suggestions that the race would be pushed up to an earlier start.
At the time of the crash, rain was falling steadily and it was getting dark. Several drivers complained of not being able to see properly.
The first nine laps were run behind a safety car and it started to rain heavily again near the end of the race.
