Bianchi in critical condition after surgery
Jules Bianchi has suffered a "severe head injury" and is fighting for his life, after his crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The FIA has confirmed that a CT scan showed a bad injury, which Bianchi's father says is a head trauma.
His condition is described as "critical".
Bianchi underwent emergency brain surgery at Mie General Hospital. He will be monitored for 24 hours, before the extent of the injury is truly understood.
He is now in an intensive care unit but it is understood he is not under respiratory assistance, or on a life support machine. The next statement of info is expected to come from the hospital tomorrow.
The Marussia driver skidded off and collided with a recovery truck, which was moving the crashed car of Adrian Sutil. He was unconscious, but breathing for himself when medics first arrived. He is still breathing for himself.
When the extent of the incident was realised, the race was immediately red flagged.
Jules Bianchi, Marussia MR03
Bianchi was supposed to be airlifted to hospital, but reports suggest the medical team treating the Frenchman decided that an ambulance was preferable.
However, conflicting reports suggest that the severe weather was not suitable for a helicopter.
He was taken to the local Mie General Hospital, with a police escort.
Marco Mattiaci, team boss of Ferrari, travelled to the hospital along with Graham Lowdon of Marussia and Felipe Massa.
After completing their press duties, the rest of the drivers joined them.
It is believed that Bianchi hit the truck side on after aquaplaning off, just as Sutil had done the lap before. The track surface was saturated with water in some areas.
Initially, it was thought that the medical car had been called for Sutil, as no live footage of the crash was scene and it was not known that Bianchi had gone off the track.
Bianchi's car has been recovered and taken back to the pit lane, where it will be investigated.
The FIA have come in for heavy criticism for allowing the race to start so late in the day, with a high threat of severe weather from Typhoon Phanfone known for the last week.
They have, so far, failed to explain whether correct procedures were followed during the incident.
It is understood that they asked circuit owners, Honda, to bring the race start forward on two occasions so the extreme weather could be avoided. Both were rejected, as Honda believed that fans wouldn't be able to make it in time.
Several drivers have said that the race should have been red flagged prior to the incident occurring. The heavy rain was getting worse, increasing the risk of aquaplaning.
Many of the drivers have also questioned why a safety car wasn't called, with a truck so close to the track.
Jules Bianchi
Felipe Massa says he was asking for the race to be stopped in the previous laps: "I was already screaming on the radio five laps before the safety car that there was too much water on the track".
The fading light only added to the difficult driving conditions. Race winner Lewis Hamilton said he had raced in worse.
However, three-time champion Niki Lauda believes the stewards did nothing wrong and suggested the event was a by-product of such a dangerous sport.
"You cannot say anything was done wrong. It was started in the most sensible way and this is what they did. But they could have started earlier. There is no doubt about it. It was foreseeable, we could have started at 1pm."
"Motor Racing is dangerous. We get used to it when nothing happens and then suddenly we are all surprised. But we always have to be aware that motor racing is always dangerous- and this accident today is a coming together of various different things."
Lauda suffered a near-fatal accident in 1976.
The Formula 1 community has rallied and sent thousands of get well messages to Bianchi. It is becoming a bad year for the sport, following Michael Schumacher's ski accident at Christmas.
This is the first life threatening incident in F1, since Felipe Massa suffered a fractured skull in 2009.
Bianchi was tipped to follow in Massa's footsteps and race for Ferrari. He scored two points for Marussia at Monaco this season, the first in the teams history.
F1-Fansite would like to send it's best wishes to Bianchi.
This story will be updated when new info is released.
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