Photo by Henry Mineur / CC BY-SA 3.0
📸 Photo by Henry Mineur / CC BY-SA 3.0 (CROPPED)
Today is his birthday, 3 August.
Jules Bianchi would have turned 36 years old.
Instead of celebrating his career milestones, and watching him compete in F1, perhaps even in a scarlet ferrari, we remember a life and talent lost far too early.
The memory of Jules will stay with us forever, is is a story of promise, passion and a quiet strength that made the F1 paddock believe he was destined for greatness.
Ferrari’s Future… Interrupted
Before Charles Leclerc, Ferrari had Jules Bianchi. He wasn’t just another young driver in the academy, he was the one they believed would wear red one day.
Back in 2009, Jules became one of the first members of the newly formed Ferrari Driver Academy. His technical feedback was sharp, his attitude calm yet relentless.
He served as a test driver for Ferrari and Force India, and by 2014, he was already under serious consideration to replace Kimi Räikkönen.
Even Luca di Montezemolo, then Ferrari president, would later admit:
“We had chosen Bianchi to replace Kimi. He was the future.”
But that future never came.
Monaco 2014 – The day everything changed
It was the day, scoring points driving for Marussia, no one couldn’t believe it would be possible, but yes Jules did it!
At the Monaco GP in 2014, behind the wheel of the struggling Marussia, he maanged to finish ninth, earning the team its first ever points in F1.
To put that into perspective: it was like dragging a go-kart into the points at the most unforgiving circuit on the calendar.
He did not just score points, he made the paddock sit up, everyone from team bosses to rival engineers, they knew he was not just good, he was different.
More than a driver: A mentor and a brother
One of the most heartfelt parts of Bianchi’s story is his bond with Charles Leclerc.
Both grew together in the karting ranks, Jules was not just a friend, he was like an older brother and mentor.
Their families were close and their careers intertwined, Jules helped guide Leclerc in the early days, offering advice, support and a glimpse into what it took to reach F1.
Leclerc never forgot. He wears the number 16 partially in honor of Jules. And whenever Leclerc steps into a Ferrari, he carries not just his own legacy—but that of the man who helped pave the way.
Today Leclerc starts from pole at the Hungarian GP, he should do everything he can to win the race and dedicate it to his mentor, JULES.
“I have that competitiveness in me because of him,” Leclerc once said.
Before F1: A Champion in the Making
Before the spotlight of Formula 1, Jules Bianchi built a racing résumé filled with wins, poles, and trophies.
- 2007 French Formula Renault 2.0 Champion
- 2008–09 Formula 3 Euro Series Winner (and a standout at Macau GP)
- 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 Runner-up, behind Robin Frijns
- Multiple podiums in GP2, consistently proving he was F1-ready
His talent was never in doubt. In every category he touched, Jules was a front-runner—the kind of driver who made things look easy when they absolutely weren’t.
Suzuka 2014 – The Final Lap
It was supposed to be just another GP, heavy rain at Suzuka, October 2014, Jules was driving for Marussia again, fighting near the back but still pushing, still extracting everything ounce of performance.
We won’t go into details, we only want to remember the good days of Jules in F1. Today is his birthday and he will be on our hearts forever.
Why we will never forget Jules?
Though his time in F1 was brief, Jules left a mark few drivers ever do.
He proved that class isn’t just measured in podiums, and that greatness can be seen even when you’re driving at the back of the grid. His determination, humility, and raw speed inspired a new generation, Leclerc above all.
Today, every time Charles pulls out of the Ferrari garage, part of Jules is still out there. Not as a ghost of what could have been, but as a reminder of what truly matters in this sport: courage, talent, and heart.
Gone Too Soon, Never Forgotten
Happy birthday, Jules. You’ll always be part of Formula 1’s story, because your spirit never left.
#JB17
