FIA retires car number 17 to honour Jules Bianchi

London : The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has announced that late Formula One driver Jules Bianchi’s car number would be retired as a mark of respect to the Frenchman. The 25-year-old passed away last Friday after succumbing to brain injuries sustained in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix on October 5. The Motorsport governing body’s president Jean Todt said that as F1 car numbers are now personally chosen by each driver, the FIA believes it to be an appropriate gesture to retire Jules Bianchi’s number 17, the Daily Express reported. The FIA president also said that as a result of this decision, this number can no longer be used for a car competing in the FIA Formula One World Championship. Bianchi had been in coma since crashing his Marussia car into a recovery vehicle in wet conditions at Suzuka nine months ago. Bianchi made his F1 debut with Marussia in 2013 and was also a member of the Ferrari young driver academy.