Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi has died at the age of 25

Jules Bianchi has died of injuries sustained at last year's Japanese Grand Prix, his family has confirmed.

The Formula 1 driver, who was 25, had been in a coma since suffering severe head injuries when his car struck a recovery vehicle at the Suzuka circuit in October.

A statement released by his family said: "Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end. The pain we feel is immense and indescribable."

Bianchi is the first F1 driver to have been killed since Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger both perished on the weekend of the 1994 San Marino GP 21 years ago. Maria de Villota died last October, 14 months after crashing while straight-line testing for Marussia.

The Manor F1 team, for whom Bianchi drove under their previous name of Marussia, Tweeted: "We are devastated to lose Jules after such a hard-fought battle. It was a privilege to have him race for our team."

Max Chilton, Bianchi's team-mate, said: "No words can describe what his family and the sport have lost. All I can say it was a pleasure knowing and racing you."

(Skysports)