'It was a pleasure knowing and racing you': Formula one fraternity mourns Jules Bianchi

Nine months after the dreadful crash at Suzuka in the Japanese Grand Prix, French driver Jules Bianchi lost his battle to the head injuries he sustained that day. The 25-year-old Bianchi was considered a bright prospect and was even linked with an eventual move to Ferrari, but his death has left the Formula One fraternity in shock.[caption id="attachment_1744073" align="alignleft" width="380"] File photo of Jules Bianchi. Reuters[/caption]The Frenchman suffered severe head injuries when, in wet conditions and fading light, his Marussia slammed into a recovery tractor while it was attempting to remove Adrian Sutil's crashed Sauber.The race was stopped and the unconscious driver was extracted from the wrecked car and taken by road ambulance to the nearby hospital.Bianchi had been in a coma since the accident at Suzuka last October. He passed away at a hospital in Nice, near his parents' home in the south of France.Bianchi is the first driver to die of injuries sustained in an F1 race since three-time world champion Ayrton Senna was killed at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.No one deserves to die doing what they love for a living and Bianchi's passing is a reminder that races may be won and lost on the track, but it all pales into insignificance when it comes to the matter of life and death.Tributes have been pouring in since Bianchi's family posted a statement from his official Twitter account confirming his passing.Bianchi's teammate at the time of incident, Max Chilton, posting perhaps the moving tribute for the Frenchman.Other top F1 drivers have joined in expressing their condolences to Bianchi and his family.The Formula One teams posted their messages for Bianchi, with Team Manor (erstwhile Marussia Racing, which was Bianchi's team at the time of the accident) leading the way.India's flagbearer in the Formula One community posted his message as well.Rest in peace, Jules.(With Reuters inputs)