F1: Bianchi family offers update on his condition

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Jules Bianchi faces a "challenging" situation as he remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital in Japan, his Marussia Formula 1 team said on Tuesday, in a statement cleared by the injured driver's family.

The Frenchman suffered severe head injuries in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix, and has been fighting for his life ever since. In a medical update that was issued by the team, Marussia said that efforts were ongoing to try to improve his condition.

"The past nine days have been extremely difficult for Jules and his family," said the statement. "As a consequence of the accident at Suzuka, a number of medical challenges have needed to be overcome and the situation remains challenging due to the diffuse axonal traumatic brain injury Jules has sustained.

"Jules remains in a critical but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit of Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi."

The statement also said that the Bianchi family, which is at his bedside, had been tremendously thankful for the messages of support they had been sent in the days after the crash.

"The Bianchi family continue to be comforted by the thoughts and prayers of Jules' many fans and the motor sport community," added the statement. "In particular, the many demonstrations of support and affection during the course of the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi were of enormous comfort to Jules' parents and the relatives and friends also present at the hospital."

In an interview with Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport, Jules' father Philippe revealed that his son is currently breathing with assistance from a machine and has not regained consciousness since the accident.

"Every time the telephone goes, we know it could be the hospital to tell us that Jules is dead," he said. "He will not give up, I'm sure of that. I can see it. I believe it. I speak to him. I know he can hear me.

"His doctors have told us that this is already a miracle – no one has ever survived such a serious accident. But Jules won't give up. His trainer Andrea says that if there is one person who can make it happen with his will, it's Jules."