F1 – Graeme Lowdon: “Jules Bianchi will not be forgotten”
The memory of the French driver’s accident at Suzuka remains one of the most painful moments in the career of Cadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon, who was with Marussia at the time.
In 2014, Graeme Lowdon served as team principal of the Marussia Formula 1 team. The Japanese Grand Prix that year was contested in extreme weather conditions, with torrential rain and severely reduced visibility in the final stages of the race. Following Adrian Sutil’s crash in the Sauber at the Dunlop curve, a crane entered the runoff area to remove the stranded car. Moments later, at the same corner, Jules Bianchi lost control of his vehicle and collided violently with the recovery vehicle, suffering severe head injuries. The French driver fell into a coma and passed away on 17 July 2015 in a hospital in Nice.
Lowdon’s immediate feelings
Lowdon recalled that it was clear from the very first moments how dire the situation was: “I am a father myself. I cannot imagine what Bianchi’s parents felt when they flew in from France. They arrived at the hospital and immediately asked about his condition.”
He recounted personally accompanying Bianchi to the Mie Prefectural General Medical Center, where he stayed for several days, sometimes sleeping on the floor. Only when he left the building and returned to the sunlight, still wearing his racing uniform, did he fully grasp the gravity of what had occurred.
Lowdon admitted that the feeling that still predominates today is deep sadness: “The dominant emotion is certainly sadness.”
Managing the team in the days that followed
Despite the shock, the team had to prepare for the next Grand Prix in Russia. Lowdon arrived in Sochi late because he had remained in Japan alongside Bianchi and his family. Marussia chose not to field the second car but decided to prepare Bianchi’s car with a spare chassis as if the driver were going to return to the track.
The team principal remembers those moments: “I wanted to give the team something to focus on. There is a very strong bond between a driver and their team, but without anything to do on track, the guys could not stop thinking about the accident. Even the most experienced mechanics struggled to manage the situation, and we needed to help them regain a sense of normality.” While Max Chilton raced, the staff working on Bianchi’s car focused on the spare car to maintain a sense of operational activity.
Lowdon also spoke about the logistical and human challenges of those days: “We were there trying to take care of Jules and his family while he was in a coma.”
The message to Bianchi and the importance of his memory
When Marussia was at serious risk of closing, Lowdon worked tirelessly to secure new title sponsors. Once the necessary support was assured, he visited Bianchi in the hospital in Nice and spoke to him, even if it was essentially a one-sided conversation: “I told him that the team would continue to operate in 2015. It was a one-way conversation, but it was very important to me.” He repeatedly highlighted Bianchi’s essential role for the team: “Without Jules, the team would not exist, no doubt. In my career, I’ve seen many drivers, but he had that extra quality you need.”
Graeme Lowdon concluded by emphasizing the importance of keeping Jules Bianchi’s memory alive: “For me, it is crucial that Jules is not forgotten. He was a great driver and a great member of the team. He could have achieved so much more in this sport. It is important that Formula 1 remembers him. Even his family does not want him to be forgotten.”
He also mentioned the activities of the foundation named after Bianchi, which organizes karting events for children, as a tangible sign of continuity and tribute to the French driver. The team principal described Bianchi as a uniquely talented driver whose character left an indelible mark on the entire team, emphasizing that his legacy must be preserved both in the sport and through initiatives like his foundation.
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