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Bianchi in critical condition after crashing in rain

Marussia Formula One driver Jules Bianchi was fighting for his life in intensive care at a Japanese hospital last night after crashing in yesterday’s Grand Prix.

Bianchi was rushed to hospital after reportedly striking a crane which was removing Adrian Sutil’s crashed Sauber.

He was unconscious when medics got to him and had to undergo emergency surgery.

The rain-soaked race was cut short with nine laps to go following Bianchi’s crash on turn seven, where Sutil had gone off earlier.

“I aquaplaned,” Sutil said. “The rain got more and more. One lap later with waved yellow flags, Jules came around and had the same spin there and that was it.

“It was the same crash but the outcome was different.”

Sunday’s race started at 3pm local time, despite suggestions of an earlier start because of an approaching typhoon.

At the time of the crash rain was falling steadily and it was getting dark. Several drivers complained of not being able to see properly.

The first nine laps were run behind a safety car and it started to rain heavily again near the end of the race.

Lewis Hamilton won the shortened race, followed by Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg and Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel in third.

Vettel’s podium finish came a day after he said he was ready to leave Red Bull at the end of the season after six years with the team.

Hamilton widened his lead over Rosberg in the drivers’ championship to 10 points, with four races left.

“Our first thoughts go to Jules,” he said. “It overshadows everything else when one of our colleagues is injured and we are praying for him. Next to this, the race result doesn’t seem significant at all.”

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