Formula One driver Jules Bianchi has died in hospital nine months after crashing at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old Marussia driver had been in a coma since October 2014 after suffering a diffuse axonal injury following a collision with a crane on the side of the Suzuka circuit.

Bianchi had been receiving treatment at a hospital in Nice, France but his family announced his passing in the early hours of Saturday morning.

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Jules Bianchi, 25, has passed away nine months after crashing into a crane during the Japanese Grand Prix

Bianchi pictured driving during the Japanese Grand Prix on October 5, when the crash occurred

Bianchi received urgent medical treatment after crashing at the Suzuka Circuit on October 5

A statement read: 'It is with deep sadness that the parents of Jules Bianchi, Philippe and Christine, his brother Tom and sister Melanie, wish to make it known that Jules passed away last night at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) in Nice, (France) where he was admitted following the accident of 5th October 2014 at Suzuka Circuit during the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix.

'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. We wish to thank the medical staff at Nice's CHU who looked after him with love and dedication.

'We also thank the staff of the General Medical Center in the Mie Prefecture (Japan) who looked after Jules immediately after the accident, as well as all the other doctors who have been involved with his care over the past months.

Marussia driver Bianchi suffered a diffuse axonal injury following the collision with a crane by the circuit

Bianchi crashed into a crane by the side of the circuit in wet conditions during the Japanese Grand Prix

Jules Bianchi's girlfriend Camille Marchetti, 24, has not yet commented on his death. After the crash Miss Marchetti, who has dated Bianchi for a number of years, led prayers for the race ace's recovery

'Furthermore, we thank Jules' colleagues, friends, fans and everyone who has demonstrated their affection for him over these past months, which gave us great strength and helped us deal with such difficult times. Listening to and reading the many messages made us realise just how much Jules had touched the hearts and minds of so many people all over the world.

'We would like to ask that our privacy is respected during this difficult time, while we try to come to terms with the loss of Jules.'

Manor 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.'

Earlier in the week Bianchi's father Philippe revealed the suffering his family had been under as they waited for their son to show signs of improvement.

Bianchi pictured during a press conference in August 2014, two months before his fatal crash in October

Bianchi of Marussia pictured during the Japanese Grand Prix before his horrific crash into a crane

Bianchi was taken away by ambulance after crashing and has unfortunately passed away nine months on

After the crash his girlfriend posted this photo and wrote online: 'You are my champion! You are the strongest'

Marchetti was often seen cheering Bianchi on from the pits as he raced around the world

'It's unbearable, it is a daily torture,' he told France Info. 'It sometimes seems crazy because for me, it is certainly worse than if he had died in the accident. Because we don't have the power to help him more.

'In general, progress must be made in the first six months and it has been nine months and Jules is still not awake and there is no significant progress.

'The passing time, it makes me less optimistic than I was two or three months after the accident, when we were hoping for a better outcome.'

Bianchi entered F1 as a test driver for Ferrari in 2011 before joining Force India the following season.

Philippe Bianchi (right) previously admitted his family were going through 'daily torture' following the crash

Manor Marussia tweeted their condolences after hearing the sad news after their driver Bianchi

THE STATEMENT FROM THE BIANCHI FAMILY It is with deep sadness that the parents of Jules Bianchi, Philippe and Christine, his brother Tom and sister Mélanie, wish to make it known that Jules passed away last night at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) in Nice, (France) where he was admitted following the accident of 5th October 2014 at Suzuka Circuit during the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix. 'Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end,' said the Bianchi family. 'The pain we feel is immense and indescribable. We wish to thank the medical staff at Nice's CHU who looked after him with love and dedication. We also thank the staff of the General Medical Center in the Mie Prefecture (Japan) who looked after Jules immediately after the accident, as well as all the other doctors who have been involved with his care over the past months. 'Furthermore, we thank Jules' colleagues, friends, fans and everyone who has demonstrated their affection for him over these past months, which gave us great strength and helped us deal with such difficult times. Listening to and reading the many messages made us realise just how much Jules had touched the hearts and minds of so many people all over the world. 'We would like to ask that our privacy is respected during this difficult time, while we try to come to terms with the loss of Jules.' Advertisement

In 2013, the Frenchman made his debut for Marussia – finishing 15th at the Australian Grand Prix. He failed to win a point that season but managed a 13th-place finish at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Bianchi scored his and Marussia's first points in F1 at the Monaco Grand Prix the next season when he finished ninth, and he impressed so much so that he was tipped as a future Ferrari driver.

Bianchi's fateful accident happened when he lost control of his car during wet conditions at the Suzuka circuit and collided with a tractor crane that was removing Adrian Sutil's Sauber which had crashed a lap earlier.

STATEMENT FROM JOHN BOOTH, TEAM PRINCIPAL FOR MARUSSIA F1 'Words cannot describe the enormous sadness within our team this morning, as we come to terms with losing Jules. He has left an indelible mark on all our lives, and will forever be part of everything we have achieved, and everything we will strive for going forward. 'Jules was a shining talent. He was destined for great things in our sport; success he so richly deserved. He was also a magnificent human being, making a lasting impression on countless people all over the world. They recognised, as did we, that at the same time as being a fiercely motivated racer, he was also an extremely warm, humble and intensely likeable person, who lit up our garage and our lives. 'We are incredibly grateful that we were able to provide Jules with the opportunity to show the world what he could do in a Formula 1 car. We knew we had a very special driver on our hands from the first time he drove our car in pre-season testing in 2013. It has been an honour to be able to consider him our race driver, our team-mate, and of course our friend. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the wonderful Bianchi family, who have remained so strong for Jules throughout the past nine months. In turn, Jules was an absolute credit to them. 'Finally, we would like to thank everyone who has supported Jules since his accident in Japan last October. Your kindness has been such a source of comfort to his family and to us, his team. We will rely on your continued support over the coming days and months as we race on for Jules.' Advertisement

The race was red flagged and ended nine laps early as medics attended to Bianchi, who was later taken to hospital and underwent surgery on a severe head injury. He remained in hospital in Japan before later being moved to France but failed to show any improvement in his condition.

Following Bianchi's accident, F1 chiefs launched an investigation and shifted the start times of five Grand Prix for this season so that no race would start with a risk of running in bad light.

The times for Australia (now 4pm), Malaysia (3pm), China (2pm), Japan (2pm) and Russia (2pm) are all one hour earlier than they were in 2014.

Bianchi lost his battle after the crash which occurred on the Suzuka Circuit in October

Bianchi entered F1 as a test driver for Ferrari in 2011 before joining Force India the following season, and the Frenchman made his debut for Marussia in 2013