25 September,2015 08:03 AM IST | | Agencies
As Formula One returns to Suzuka Circuit, Philippe Bianchi, father of late F1 driver Jules, admits he still cannot bring himself to watch the sport after his son's death
Suzuka (Japan): Jules Bianchi's father admits he still cannot bring himself to watch Formula One almost a year after the Frenchman's fatal crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Jules Bianchi. Pic/AFP
The Marussia driver smashed into a recovery vehicle in rain and fading light last October, suffering severe head injuries.
He died in July after nine months in a coma. "Perhaps in a few months, a few years, I can see a grand prix," Philippe Bianchi told the BBC from his home in the south of France.
"But for the moment it is too difficult. His son became the first Formula One driver to die from injuries sustained in a grand prix weekend since Ayrton Senna in 1994. "It's a difficult moment because it marks one year now that Jules had his crash," said Bianchi's grief-stricken father, who has also been unable to watch replays of the collision.
'Not a good week'
"This week is not a good week for the Bianchi family. Jules is missed a lot by all his family, all the fans, all his friends, it is very difficult." Flowers and cards were placed by a pitlane wall near the Marussia garage at Suzuka yesterday, with more visible at the corner where he crashed along with several banners in the stands paying tribute to Bianchi.
Philippe Bianchi
"When the months pass and you see Jules every day the same and you understand at that moment that it's not possible for him to come back because the damage is too important," Philippe said.
"I think that Jules is with me now but it's difficult because he phoned me and his mother every day, and now it is one year that I can't speak with Jules and his mother can't speak with him," Philippe said.
