Nice (France): Formula One driver Jules Bianchi has died nine months after suffering severe head injuries in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, uniting the motorsport world in paying tribute to him.

Bianchi, 25, had been in a coma since last October after his Marussia car collided with a recovery vehicle in wet conditions during the closing stages of the Japanese Grand Prix on October 5 last year. He died on Friday night.

Bianchi sustained serious head injuries in the Suzuka accident, which occurred in heavy rain under yellow-flag conditions. As marshals were working to recover the damaged Sauber of Adrian Sutil, who had crashed out a lap earlier, Bianchi lost control of his car, travelled across the run-off area and hit the back of the recovery vehicle.