by Our Sports Desk

MANOR team principal John Booth paid tribute to Jules Bianchi on Saturday after the French driver died from horrific head injuries he sustained at last year’s Japanese Grand Prix.

Bianchi, 25, suffered a traumatic brain injury and never regained conciousness after he lost control of his Marussia in the rain-lashed race in Suzuka on October 5 and hit the side of a vehicle deployed to recover Adrian Sutil’s Sauber.

Bianchi, who was a member of Ferrari’s young driver academy and tipped to be a future world champion, becomes the first driver since the death of Ayrton Senna at the San Marino Grand Prix on May 1 1994 to succumb to injuries sustained at a Formula One race weekend.

“Words cannot describe the enormous sadness within our team this morning, as we come to terms with losing Jules,” Booth said.

“He has left an indelible mark on all our lives and will forever be part of everything we have achieved and everything we will strive for going forward.”

Bianchi made his Formula One debut for Marussia, now renamed Manor, at the 2013 Australian Grand Prix.

He competed in 34 grands prix for the British-based team and scored the first points in their history after he memorably finished ninth at last year’s Monaco Grand Prix.

“Jules was a shining talent. He was destined for great things in our sport; success he so richly deserved,” Booth added.

“He was also a magnificent human being, making a lasting impression on countless people all over the world.”