Lewis Hamilton dedicated his victory in Russia’s first Formula One Grand Prix to Jules Bianchi, who remains in a critical condition in a Japanese hospital after his high-speed crash at Suzuka last Sunday.
Hamilton, who extended his world championship lead to 17 points over Nico Rosberg with his ninth win of the season, said: “All week there has been just one person on my mind, and that’s Jules. Without a doubt every time I’ve got in a car this week, and coming here, and being here, I’ve been thinking about him and his family and keeping him in my prayers.
“Whether it means anything or whether it does anything, it would be great to dedicate this to Jules and his family. It will make a very small difference to them, for sure. But every bit of positive energy hopefully will help. All you guys, and all us teams, are sending him our positive vibes that way because positive energy is actually real.”
The accident that befell Bianchi in Japan has deeply affected the other drivers and a clearly upset Jenson Button said: “Before the race and after the race, the national anthems, it’s horrific, but when you put on the helmet and get in the car and you are racing it is a nice place to be because you are in another world.
“On the grid was emotional for everyone and we, the drivers, had our time together. We were there for Jules. Then getting back into the car was the trickiest bit. Every driver feels the same pain but when we get into the car and close our visors we get on with it. It is good we drive our hearts out. Different things go through your head and you have your emotional moments. For us drivers, we weren’t thinking about the national anthem, we were thinking about Jules.”
Marussia’s team principal, John Booth, remained in Japan with Bianchi over the race weekend. But the president and sporting director, Graeme Lowdon, said: “It’s difficult because there’s a team-mate missing. Your thoughts are certainly elsewhere. But equally, there’s a race to run and that focuses the mind, because that’s why we’re here and why Jules has been with us all year. It’s helpful for the guys to focus on their job.
“Everyone was very happy with the decision to run one car [Max Chilton, their solitary driver, failed to finish] and we think it helped the guys in the team. Hopefully it’s helped Jules and the family.”
At the back of the grid, before the race, Marussia team members held up a sign which read “Racing for Jules”.
Hamilton received his trophy from Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, whom he appeared to keep waiting for a couple of minutes after the race. “He didn’t say anything to me. He was talking to those girls behind. Then I realised he was there and came over and shook his hand.”
Talking about his win, the driver said: “It’s a very positive feeling to have points and be finishing ahead of Nico but history has shown this year that a gap can never be enough. The most important thing is that the gap is at the end of the year.
“At the moment nothing changes. I’ve got to keep on fighting and pushing as hard as I have been up until now.
“There is never a comfortable feeling. I never did have a comfortable feeling when I was in a championship in my life. It’s tense all the way to the end and this is a championship that is going to go to the end. I just hope that the future is bright for the next three races.”
