Philippe Bianchi, the father of the late Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi, has made a heartfelt plea on social media after several karts were stolen. Jules Bianchi, who was part of Ferrari’s young driver program, made his F1 debut with the Marussia team in 2013. He scored his and his team’s first points by finishing ninth at the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix. Tragically, during the Japanese Grand Prix that same year, he was involved in a severe accident with a trackside vehicle, resulting in serious head injuries. Jules was kept in a medically induced coma for nine months before passing away on July 17, 2015. His death marked the first fatal F1 accident since Ayrton Senna’s in 1994. In honor of his son, Philippe Bianchi founded an organization to support promising young drivers.
On Wednesday, Philippe took to social media to reveal that nine JB17 Forever kart chassis, including the last kart Jules raced—a KZ 125 ART GP model—as well as his grandchildren’s mini karts, were stolen. He emotionally appealed for help to recover the stolen items, emphasizing that the loss is not just material but also deeply emotional. He asked anyone who sees a JB17 kart being used to come forward with information.
Fan Take: This incident hits hard for racing fans who remember Jules Bianchi’s promising career and tragic loss. It shows the deep emotional connection within the racing community and underscores the importance of preserving the legacy of drivers who inspire future generations.
