Drivers share their memories of Jules Bianchi

A number of Formula 1 drivers have shared their memories of Jules Bianchi and hope to put on a fitting tribute for the Frenchman at the Hungaroring.

At the first race since Bianchi passed away drivers came together to share their fondest moments with their friend. Fernando Alonso led the tributes by making an emotional speech about his close friend and says he will carry his memory for the rest of his career.

Fernando Alonso:

I will always have him on my heart. Outside the track I spent a lot of time with him at Maranello for three years, we did some training camps together, we can good rides on bicycles, football matches and playing cards. I spent one week with him in Lanzarote at a training camp with Ferrari in 2012 and we were roommates. Very strong feelings at this moment and it is a very sad time at the moment.

After many years in Formula 1 without a fatality we had this incident in Suzuka last year and have now lost him, it is the first loss I've had in my whole career. A driver that I shared the track together and now it is no more. That will always be in my heart.

Romain Grosjean:

I cannot pick up a favourite memory because I've got too much with Jules. I think the first time I heard his name was back in 2003. He was a much better driver in go-karts than I was; he was a bit younger. Then he did follow up in all categories what I did and he won everywhere. I think we shared a lot with Jules. It was a very nice ceremony. It was very emotional. His parents were, I think, happy to see us. Of course, this week all our thoughts go with him but personally I will never forget that we race and we race for Jules as well.

Pastor Maldonado:

We were quite close in the past, we shared a manager and many things together, good moments, wonderful moments together. It is very difficult to be there, it is shocking. But it is life, we need to focus on the weekend now. We need to do our best to get a wonderful result in his memory. We miss him and we will miss him forever.

Sebastian Vettel:

The memories I had [of Bianchi] was when I was running the track in Japan. He was also running and I was impressed by how strong he was, how fit he was and his ability to suffer. You could see just from that little run - I think we all know the Suzuka circuit is up and down - he was fighting and pushing very hard, which was very nice to see.

Valtteri Bottas:

It has been tough, like it has for everyone who knew Jules and everyone in Formula One. I can't even imagine what the family is going through. It was not an easy day on Tuesday to let go. He was a nice guy that everyone liked, so it's not been easy.

Will Stevens:

The difference Jules made last year in Monaco is absolutely key to Manor still being here. So I don't think there's a single member of the team who underestimates everything he did for the team. He always was a really good guy, I knew him from a very young age in karting and wherever he was there was never a bad word said about him.

Felipe Massa:

He was a fantastic boy, very nice, very humble and an amazing driver. Unfortunately in Formula One he didn't have the opportunity to race in a competitive car; to show his talent. He showed us anyway by finishing in the points in Monaco with a car he was driving which everybody knows was like... it was an amazing thing he did in that race. But for me the experience I had with Jules was also that we did a lot of go-kart together, even in Brazil, and in my experience he was the best go-kart driver I saw. It was amazing the way he was driving go-karts

Sergio Perez:

When I really spent more time with him was in the Ferrari Academy, when we were both doing the Ferrari Academy. You could see Jules was a very special driver but also a very special person that everyone seemed to like. He was just very humble and very human as well and he really left a big impact on the world. I think we all share the same opinion. I think Jules was a very special driver that didn't have the opportunity to show what he could do in Formula One in his short period. It was just enough to realise that he was a potential champion for the future. He was just a very, very special driver.

Nico Hulkenberg:

He's been my team-mate twice, in 2008 in Formula 3 and 2012 in Formula One here. I remember in 2008, I was in my second in Formula 3, supposed to win the championship and he came in as a rookie, his first year. I remember his race in Mugello, I was starting from pole and he was starting second or third. Anyway, we take off, I'm leading, he's second and I'm seeing him in my mirrors, pushing really hard, really chasing me down, trying to get me. He was burning his tyres at the time, I was saving them, but it just showed how competitive he was and he was so hungry for success. Even outside the track he was a great guy, a lot fun, a lot of great moments together and we'll all miss him.