Jules Bianchi taken unconscious to hospital after crash at Japanese Grand Prix

Formula 1 news: Serious concerns for Marussia driver Jules Bianchi after he spins off and collides with a tractor amid dreadful race conditions at the Japanese GP

The Marussia driver Jules Bianchi was taken to hospital by ambulance after being knocked unconscious in a crash during the Japanese Grand Prix.

After Sauber's Adrian Sutil crashed out in extremely wet conditions, the 25-year-old Frenchman followed on the same corner and reportedly collided with a tractor that was removing Sutil's car. After being attended to by a medical team on the track, Bianchi, 25, was taken to Mie University Hospital by ambulance, less than 10 miles away from the Suzuka circuit, with the torrential rain meaning that a helicopter could not fly.

The race was stopped in the 47th lap after the collision, but the Williams driver Felipe Massa, who himself suffered a life-threatening crash in 2009, condemned the race organisers. He said: "In my opinion they started the race too early because it was not driveable at the beginning and they finished the race too late. I was screaming on the radio five laps before the safety car that there was too much water on the track but they just took a little bit too long. It was dangerous."

There had been discussions around starting the race earlier on Sunday, before the worst of the rain hit, but this was dismissed by race organisers and apparently not discussed with the teams.

The mood around the podium was sombre after the race. Mercedes' Nico Rosberg, who finished second, said: “My thoughts at the moment are with our friend Jules, as it seems quite serious.”

Matteo Bonciani, an FIA delegate, said: "The driver is unconscious. He has been sent to hospital by ambulance because the helicopter cannot go in these conditions. Further updates will follow. For the moment, we cannot say anything."

Sutil later confirmed that the situation with Bianchi was "critical".

"I aquaplaned," Sutil said. The rain got more and more. One lap later with waved yellow flags Jules came around and had the same spin there and that was it. It was the same crash but the outcome was different.

"The car came out to rescue my car and it all happened.

"In respect of this corner everyone knows it is one of the trickiest one when it is getting late and the rain increases. If you have an accident there you should think about a safety car. It got a little bit dark in the end and maybe we should have stopped the race earlier."

When asked about the possibility of starting earlier in the day, Sutil said: "We weren’t asked about our opinion so there is nothing I can say. It was clear it got more wet and it would have ben quite easy to make the race earlier but it is not in my hands."

Marco Mattiacci, Ferrari team principal, Grame Lowdon, Marussia sporting director, and Williams driver Felipe Massa have all gone to hospital to be with Bianchi, who is also on Ferrari's young driver programme.