Jules Bianchi was the focus of all thoughts on Sunday as Formula One broke with recent traditions and dedicated the build-up to the inaugural Russian Grand Prix to the 25-year-old Frenchman.
Bianchi, who suffered severe head injuries when his Marussia car crashed into a recovery vehicle at last Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, remains in a critical condition in hospital in Yokkaichi.
In the paddock, before the race, team members from Marussia and Ferrari, which Bianchi represents as an academy driver, gathered behind a pit board which displayed the words 'Forza Jules'.
The Anglo-Russian Marussia team, fielding only one car at the event, sent a message for Bianchi and his family from Briton Max Chilton's grid slot shortly before the start and another supportive tribute was performed by all the drivers and teams during the playing of the Russian national anthem.
That saw the drivers stand in a line ahead of the grid next to a message on the track that read 'Jules we are all supporting you' before they huddled into a team group before departing to their cars.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, wearing an open-necked white shirt, finally arrived after 39 laps of the 53-laps racing at the paddock gates to be greeted by F1's long-serving commercial ring-master Bernie Ecclestone.
Felipe Massa, who finished 11th behind Lewis Hamilton, said he was pleased with the drivers' pre-race demonstration of unity and support.
"It was important that we show everything we can for Jules and his family," said the Brazilian.
"I am a very big friend of his so it is not easy for me to talk about it, but it was good to see all the drivers come together for him.
"We are all together all the time but we really showed it today."
Source: AFP
