MARUSSIA driver Jules Bianchi was in hospital last night after suffering "severe" head injuries in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old Frenchman crashed into a recovery vehicle after aquaplaning off the wet track at the same corner as Sauber's Adrian Sutil, who had left the Suzuka circuit on the previous lap.

Sutil's car was still being removed when Bianchi reached the scene of the accident and collided with a tractor. The race was red-flagged shortly afterwards on lap 46.

Bianchi was taken by ambulance to Mie General Hospital, in Yokkaichi, where he underwent emergency surgery and was later transferred to intensive care.

Three-time world champion Sir Jackie Stewart led the move towards greater safety in F1. He said: "It did look as though race conditions were pretty appalling. The biggest challenge is the track that holds water. Suzuka seems to be quite good from the point of view of the cambers, allowing most of the water to be shed, either to the outside or the inside."

l The former F1 driver Andrea de Cesaris has been killed in a motorbike accident in Rome.

The Italian driver raced between 1980 and 1994 and started in 208 races, although he never won a Grand Prix His teams included McLaren, Jordan and Brabham.