Farewell Jules Bianchi: Formula One world comes together to mourn 'champion' competitor, friend

[caption id=“attachment_2356186” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Friends and Formula One drivers gather around the coffin of late Marussia F1 driver Jules Bianchi during the funeral ceremony at the Sainte Reparate Cathedral in Nice. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2356188” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Bianchi, 25, died in hospital in Nice on Friday, nine months after his crash at Suzuka in Japan and without regaining consciousness. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2356190” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Formula One drivers Jean-Eric Vergne (front), Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean (3rdL), carry the coffin of late Marussia F1 driver Jules Bianchi. He is the first F1 driver to die from injuries sustained in a grand prix since Brazilian triple world champion Ayrton Senna was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2356192” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] His car number, 17, is being retired from F1 in his honour. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2356194” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] The cathedral priest, Father Sylvain Brison Mourners, told the congregation that Bianchi was “a champion blessed with a rare talent”, and mourners applauded the late driver for several minutes. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2356196” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Formula One drivers Marcus Ericsson (L) and Daniil Kvyat (C) arrive to attend the funeral ceremony. Announcing his death on Saturday, Bianchi’s family said: “Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end.” Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2356198” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Nico Rosberg and many of Bianchi’s colleagues joined family and friends at a service in the city’s cathedral while fans gathered outside. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2356200” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] The 25-year-old competed in 34 races during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, scoring the first-ever championship points for the Manor-Marussia team by finishing ninth at last year’s Monaco Grand Prix. Reuters[/caption]