'No significant progress' in Jules Bianchi condition

Philippe Bianchi admitted Monday he is "less optimistic" that his son Jules will make a full recovery from the life-threatening head injuries he suffered in a crash at last October's Japanese Grand Prix.

"In general, progress needs to be made in the first six months. It has been nine months now and Jules has still not woken up and there is no significant progress," he told radio station France Info.

Jules Bianchi, who will be 26 next month, has been in a coma fighting for his life in controlled medical conditions in hospital in his home city Nice.

His father added: "As time goes by, I am less optimistic than I might have been two or three months after the accident when we could have hoped for better progress.

"There comes a point when you have to just keep your feet on the ground and realise the gravity of the situation.

"He said to us that if he ever had an accident like that of Michael Schumacher (who is recovering after spending 189 days in a coma after a skiing accident), that even if his only handicap was not being able to drive, he would have a lot of difficulty living. Because it was his life."

Bianchi joined the Marussia team in 2013 and raced in 34 Grands Prix, notching two world championship points, before being injured in a collision with a rescue vehicle in Japan.
Source: AFP