Manor F1 team glad Japanese GP is over amid Jules Bianchi memories

Manor departed the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix relieved the weekend passed smoothly after memories of the accident that ultimately cost Jules Bianchi his life had flooded back

The team went into the event knowing it would be a tough occasion and eager to maintain a low profile almost a year on from its horrific experience in Japan.

It was in early October last year Bianchi crashed at Suzuka, resulting in him spending nine months in a coma before losing his fight for life on July 17.

"We're glad to have got the weekend out of the way," team boss John Booth told AUTOSPORT. "There are a lot of reminders here.

"It was pretty tough on Friday when it was raining, but the fans were very good.

"We received a lot of gifts on Thursday when the pits were open and you could see there were numerous flags up in the grandstand."

Sporting director Graeme Lowdon conceded ahead of the race there would be "difficult moments", in particular with so many staff back with the team after it fell into administration soon after the Bianchi incident.

"You could see in the team that different people managed things in different ways," Lowdon told AUTOSPORT.

"As John said, Friday was really difficult. No matter what you looked at, it brought back memories.

"There were a lot of images that looked similar, and I think a lot of the lads thought the same."

Lowdon was particularly grateful to the Japanese fans for the understanding and sympathy displayed over the course of the past few days.

"Some of the things the fans made were hand-made. You could see a lot of effort had gone in, and they obviously care an awful lot.

"There were a lot of people offering their own expressions of sympathy, and I think it was obviously helpful for the fans as well."