F1 driver Jules Bianchi dead aged 25

Former Formula One driver Jules Bianchi has died just over nine months after his accident at the Japanese Grand Prix.

A statement from the Bianchi family said the 25-year-old died on Friday at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Nice.

"Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end," the statement read on Saturday.

"The pain we feel is immense and indescribable. We wish to thank the medical staff at Nice’s CHU who looked after him with love and dedication.

"We also thank the staff of the General Medical Center in the Mie Prefecture [Japan] who looked after Jules immediately after the accident, as well as all the other doctors who have been involved with his care over the past months.

"Furthermore, we thank Jules' colleagues, friends, fans and everyone who has demonstrated their affection for him over these past months, which gave us great strength and helped us deal with such difficult times. Listening to and reading the many messages made us realise just how much Jules had touched the hearts and minds of so many people all over the world.

"We would like to ask that our privacy is respected during this difficult time, while we try to come to terms with the loss of Jules."

Bianchi sustained a diffuse axonal injury at Suzuka in October when he collided with a recovery vehicle.

The Frenchman underwent surgery in Yokkaichi before being transferred to his home city of Nice.

The accident forced the race to be stopped and Frenchman Bianchi subsequently underwent emergency surgery after being transported unconscious to hospital, where he was in intensive care.