Jules Bianchi was subjected to a brutal force of 254G in his 2014 crash at Suzuka that ultimately cost the talented Frenchman his life.
The Hungarian grand prix will be run and won in sombre mood this weekend, with many of the late Bianchi’s on-track colleagues having just attended his funeral in Nice.
F1 will officially mark his death with a minute’s silence on the grid, cars will carry the ’CiaoJules’ hashtag, Manor will add the word ’Jules’ to its sidepods and Ferrari will decorate its garage in honour of the fallen 25-year-old.
And now, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport has published formerly-secret accident data from the Suzuka crash, including that Bianchi’s 126km impact with the recovery tractor subjected his head to an incredible 254G.
Reporting about the magazine’s claims, Bild newspaper said the impact was equivalent to 1,400 kilograms on Bianchi’s helmet.
"It was like dropping the car from 48 metres in the air to the ground," Andy Mellor, the FIA Institute’s technical advisor, said.
Bild newspaper also reported that Bianchi’s wish was for his body to be cremated, with the ashes scattered at sea on the French Mediterranean coast.