Suzuka: French driver Jules Bianchi suffered a severe head injury and is undergoing surgery following a crash that brought a halt to Sunday-s rain-hit Japanese Grand Prix, casting a pall of gloom over the Formula One paddock.


Inset Marussia driver Jules Bianchi moments before the start of the Japanese GP yesterday. Emergency medical teams attend to 25-year-old Bianchi after the Frenchman crashed during the Suzuka Grand Prix yesterday. The young driver suffered a severe head injury. Pics/Getty Images 

Bianchi, who has been taken to the Mie General Hospital, lost control of his Marussia a lap after Sauber-s Adrian Sutil crashed at the same corner. Bianchi-s car hit the back of the recovery vehicle sent out to retrieve Sutil-s car.