Japanese Grand Prix: Spoiler For Those Who Didn't Watch Live

[ChillDoubt]

Spoiler alert for anyone who didn't watch it live this a.m. and is watching the re-run on BBC.

Another great win for Lewis Hamilton today in some dreadful conditions. Superb passing manoeuvre to take the lead but the win has been tempered with the news that Jules Bianchi suffered a severe head injury when he hit the tractor that was recovering a vehicle from an earlier crash.
Bianchi has had surgery, fingers crossed for a full and speedy recovery but as ever with these sorts of injuries it's going to be some time before they can fully assess him and the severity.

[Aquariel]

It would have been better if you had put your spoiler alert in a reply to your question :-)

But yes, another great win for Hamilton with a great overtake on the outside. Fingers crosssed for Bianchi.

[DTCwordfan]

Brilliant pass.

So Bianchi is out of surgery - is there footage of the accident as the Beeb are not showing it, I understand. Where were the warning flags then?

[Jomlett]

Here is the latest statement from the FIA in full:

On lap 42, Adrian Sutil lost control of his car, spun and hit the tyre barrier on the outside of Turn 7. The marshals displayed double waved yellow flags before the corner to warn drivers of the incident. A recovery vehicle was dispatched in order to lift the car and take it to a place of safety behind the guard rail. While this was being done the driver of car 17, Jules Bianchi, lost control of his car, travelled across the run-off area and hit the back of the tractor.

Once the marshals reported that the driver was injured, medical teams were dispatched and the safety car was deployed. These were followed by an extrication team and an ambulance. The driver was removed from the car, taken to the circuit medical centre and then by ambulance to Mie General Hospital.

The CT scan shows that he has suffered a severe head injury and is currently undergoing surgery. Following this he will be moved to intensive care where he will be monitored.

[ChillDoubt]

Apparently he is out of surgery and breathing unaided, which is good news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/29499545

[chrissa1]

What crass coverage of the last stages of the GP, by BBC. Ridiculous.

[ChillDoubt]

In what respect, chrissa?

[chrissa1]

Well, I didn't see the Live showing but Coulthard and Whathisname didn't have have a clue what was going on, or they did, and didn't feel they could mention it. Why?

[ChillDoubt]

I believe that in the conditions they did the best they could. Indeed, Coulthard was first to spot that Bianchi hadn't been seen when the medical car was despatched at the same time as the safety car and that Sutil was assumed to be ok because he was seen climbing from his car.
Given that the camera shots from the track didn't even show Bianchi's car(only Sutil's) it's fair to say that pretty much everyone was in the dark bar DC, who was pretty much on the ball.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Chill.........have you seen the youtube footage of Sutils recovery,before Jules crashed?Could we see a waved green flag?

[chrissa1]

In the recorded version this afternoon, DC never mentioned Bianci at all and indeed, for the next few minutes they were just talking about the medical car dealing with Suthil.

Also, when it flashed up "Ambulance on the track", that wasn't mentioned either.

[ChillDoubt]

Chill.........have you seen the youtube footage of Sutils recovery,before Jules crashed?Could we see a waved green flag?
------------
Nope. Link?

[SeaJayPea]

That track is over three miles long. Nobody would be able to see all of it. The BBC don't have their own cameras there, they buy in the local coverage. So the people commentating are mostly watching the TV coverage and can't see to much of the track.

So it wasn't 'crass' coverage at all. The fact that DC spotted what was going on is all credit to him. And the BBC had no control over the pictures that were shown.