WATCH: OTD - Jules Bianchi's deadly crash which took his life at Suzuka in 2014

On July 17, 2015, Formula 1 faced one of its darkest days as young French driver Jules Bianchi passed away after nine months after his deadly crash. On October 5, 2014, at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. Bianchi suffered a horrific accident that would ultimately claim his life. It marked the end of 21 years 21-year-long period without a fatality in the sport since the death of Ayrton Senna in 1994.

The race day was marked by torrential rain, a common occurrence in Japan during typhoon season. The race began under safety car conditions due to the extreme weather, with title contenders Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton starting on the front row. Despite the precautions, the track conditions were treacherous. Drivers struggled with visibility and control, with several incidents occurring early in the race.

As the race progressed, conditions momentarily improved, allowing the safety car to leave the track on lap 10. However, the rain soon intensified again, creating hazardous conditions. On lap 43, Adrian Sutil lost control of his Sauber at Turn 7, crashing into the barriers. A recovery vehicle was deployed to remove Sutil's car.

Also WATCH: Daniel Ricciardo's historic three-way victory in Hungarian Grand Prix 2014

Tragically, on the very next lap, Jules Bianchi lost control of his Marussia at the same corner. His car skidded off the track and collided violently with the recovery vehicle. The impact was so severe that it lifted the vehicle off the ground. Bianchi's head struck the underside of the crane, causing catastrophic injuries.

Here is the video:

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The race was immediately red-flagged and eventually stopped on lap 46, with Hamilton declared the winner. But the victory was overshadowed by the severity of Bianchi's accident. Medical personnel quickly attended to him, and he was rushed to Yokkaichi Hospital in critical condition. Bianchi remained in a coma for nine months before passing away on July 17, 2015, at the age of 25.

Impact of Jules Bianchi’s death

Bianchi's death prompted significant changes in Formula 1's safety protocols. The Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was introduced to ensure drivers slowed down sufficiently during caution periods, reducing the risk of similar accidents.

Additionally, the incident accelerated the development and implementation of the halo, a titanium protection device designed to shield drivers' heads from impact. Introduced in 2018, the halo has since proven its worth, saving the lives of several drivers, including Charles Leclerc, Romain Grosjean, and Zhou Guanyu in subsequent races.