FIA: Jules Bianchi driving too fast in 2014 Japanese GP crash

The Federation International de l'Automobile (FIA) revealed the investigation result of French driver Jules Bianchi of Team Marussia. The report revealed he was going way too fast when he crashed his car onto a mobile crane last October at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka Circuit.

The Accident Panel, commissioned by the FIA, expounded on this by stating that since Bianchi was going too fast, he wasn't able to slow down and comply with the 2 yellow flags at Section 7 and Section 8 which warned drivers that Adrian Sutil's car has crashed. It was already too late when he saw the mobile crane and tried to correct his oversteering car, which resulted his car leaving the track earlier than Sutil's. The wet weather conditions also contributed to the crash of Jules Bianchi as a portion of Section 7 suddenly narrowed when water started to drain onto the track which then flowed downhill.

In addition, the panel stated that just 2 seconds before the crash, Bianchi pressed both the brake and accelerator pedals at the same time. The FailSafe system was designed to over-ride the throttle response and cut power to the engine. It ultimately failed though as the FailSafe was inhibited by the car's Torque Coordinator which controlled the rear Brake-by-Wire (BBW) system. The unique BBW system of the Marussia car was later found to be incompatible with the FailSafe system.

The panel then recommended some solutions to avoid further crashes/accidents. The first of which is that a speed limit be imposed during double yellow flags, second, a review of safety software be done, third, checking track drainage, fourth, a race should not be allowed just 4 hours before sunset unless flood-lit night races, fifth, acquisition of the Super License be made stricter, and finally, wet weather tire development be improved upon.