F1 to make key changes after Jules Bianchi crash

On the eve of the inaugural Russian Grand Prix, Formula One has learned lessons from Jules Bianchi's life-threatening crash in Japan and will make key changes to improve safety, two of the sport's leading figures said.

Jean Todt, president of the International Motoring Federation (FIA), and the ruling body's race director Charlie Whiting made it clear changes would be made in consultation with drivers and meetings had been held.

The move comes as world championship leader Lewis Hamilton maintained his stunning speed and supremacy with another sizzling lap in yesterday's qualifying session when he took pole position for today's race in Sochi

Six days after Bianchi's life-threatening crash at the Japanese Grand Prix, the F1 show went on with the drivers all wearing "Tous Avec Jules" (All with Jules) stickers on their helmets as they raced in front of a capacity crowd at the new Olympic Park circuit by the Black Sea.

As Frenchman Bianchi, 25, remained in a critical condition in hospital in Japan, the 29-year-old Briton, winner of the last three grands prix, was fastest with a late lap of the new Sochi Autodrom to finish two-tenths of a second clear of Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg.

The German, 10 points behind Hamilton in the championship with four races remaining, pushed hard to catch him, but was almost overhauled by Finn Valtteri Bottas in the final seconds, the Williams driver only missing out on a front row start when he slid off the circuit at the penultimate corner.

It was Hamilton's seventh pole this year and the 38th of his career and, for the Mercedes team another front row lockout, their ninth of the season ahead of today's race in which they can clinch the constructors' crown, ending Red Bull's four year reign as team champions.

"Pole is a great place to start," said Hamilton. "It's an amazing job done by the team who are constantly improving and moving forwards this year and it's great to come here.

Meanwhile, Whiting said the proposed safety changes were not to be introduced at the Russian Grand Prix, but were being considered for use next season.

Whiting said the FIA wanted drivers to slow down more during such incidents. "We put double waved yellows out because we felt that the incident could be dealt with - without using a safety car," said Whiting.

"The next stage up is a safety car, but because the car was well away from the track, against a tyre-barrier, that was the normal procedure for us to follow."

He added that "not everybody slowed down" in response to the double waved yellow flags, but declined to reveal how fast Bianchi was driving.

"There were some that didn't slow down much," he said. "There were some that slowed down a lot. I don't think we need to go into details."

Whiting said the FIA was considering fitting "skirts" to all recovery vehicles to ensure it was impossible for cars to go beneath them, as Bianchi's did.