Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has branded his Japanese Grand Prix win as a real anti-climax in light of Marussia driver Jules Bianchi's accident during the race.
Bianchi suffered a severe head injury after hitting a recovery vehicle, prompting the stoppage of the rain-affected race in Suzuka after 44 laps. He has undergone surgery after he was taken to a hospital in an unconscious state.
Hamilton, who won the race ahead of teammate Nico Rosberg, said that it is obviously a real anti-climax to hear that one of their colleagues is seriously injured, adding that that is the main worry, The BBC reported.
This was Hamilton's third straight victory after wins at Monza and Singapore and also his first win ever at Suzuka. The Brit extended his advantage in drivers' standings to 10 points with four races remaining.
Earlier, governing body the FIA said that Bianchi would be operated on before being moved to intensive care. The Frenchman was unconscious when he was taken to hospital from Suzuka.
Bianchi lost control close to where Sauber driver Adrian Sutil had spun and hit the tyre barrier. As a recovery vehicle was lifting Sutil's car, Bianchi travelled across the run-off area and hit the back of the tractor.
Having been taken by ambulance from the circuit to nearby Mie General Hospital, CT scans revealed Bianchi had a severe head injury.
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The race had earlier started under safety car conditions after a heavy downpour on Sunday morning as storms that preceded the approaching typhoon Phanfone hit Suzuka.
Bianchi, who is in his second season in Formula 1, was born into a family of racing drivers. His grandfather Mauro was a three-times champion in the GT category while his great uncle Lucien competed in 19 grand prixs from 1959-1968 and also won the 1968 Le Mans 24 Hour Race.
The Frenchman scored a memorable ninth place in Monaco this year, giving the back-of-the grid Marussia team their first points since their debut in 2010, the report added.
