23 July,2015 08:19 AM IST | | PA Sport
Lewis Hamilton believes Formula One faces a challenging future after it was rocked by the death of Jules Bianchi
British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton at the funeral of late French F1 driver Jules Bianchi in Nice on Tuesday
Budapest: Lewis Hamilton believes Formula One faces a challenging future after it was rocked by the death of Jules Bianchi.
Also Read: Goodbye, Bianchi: F1 world pays respect to driver who passed away
British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton at the funeral of late French F1 driver Jules Bianchi in Nice on Tuesday. Pics/AFP
Bianchi, who was laid to rest in his home city of Nice in France on Tuesday, died last week after he succumbed to the devastating brain injuries he sustained at the Japanese GP nine months ago.
Also Read: F1 driver Jules Bianchi dies after 9 months in coma, motorsport world mourns
Hamilton was among a number of current drivers to pay his final respects to Bianchi in a moving service at Sainte Reparate Cathedral on Tuesday.
"Saying goodbye to Jules was incredibly hard for everyone," Hamilton said. "For myself, I wished I had known him better. But from what I knew of him, he was a kind heart with a great spirit and a bright future. Now our sport embarks on a tough road ahead."
Jules Bianchi
Bianchi is the first F1 driver to die as a result of injuries sustained at a grand prix weekend since Ayrton Senna's death in Imola 21 years ago.
"We have been shown once more the dangers of our sport, that these should be respected."
Hamilton later announced plans to carry a tribute to Bianchi on his car or helmet during the race weekend. He wrote on Twitter: "I need your help. I want to make a sticker in loving memory of Jules. Send me ideas and see the winning hashtag on my car/helmet this wknd""
The Hungarian GP is the final race before the four-week summer break, but the sport arrives in Budapest under a dark cloud with Bianchi's death.
