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Bianchi family and Formula One pay tribute to Jules at Hungarian Grand Prix

26.07.15
Formula One drivers were joined by the family of Jules Bianchi on the grid of his afternoon’s Hungarian Grand Prix as the sport paid tribute to the late French driver with a minute’s silence.

The Bianchi family – including Bianchi's mother, father, brother and sister – had been flown to Budapest’s Hungaroring by F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone and after observing the minute’s silence alongside drivers, team principals and senior F1 personnel, they made their way to the front of the grid to link arms with F1’s drivers in a circle around the drivers’ helmets, including one belonging to Bianchi. 
At the end the 20 drivers collected their helmets from inside the circle, leaving Bianchi's briefly alone on the asphalt.


Bianchi died on July 17, nine months after he suffered serious injuries in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. His funeral was held in Nice on Tuesday


Formula One teams and drivers have been paying tribute to him all weekend Hungary, with 'Ciao Jules', #JB17 and 'Jules Forever' stickers on cars and helmets. Defending Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton had #FlyHighJules on his helmet.


The FIA last week announced that Bianchi's racing number, 17, has been retired from the championship and will not be available to any other driver.