FORMULA 1 driver Jules Bianchi’s funeral will be held at his home city of Nice in the south of France today.

The 25-year-old, formerly a driver for Banbury-based team Marussia, suffered serious head injuries in a crash at the Grand Prix in Japan last year and died on Friday night.

His funeral will take place in the Sainte Réparate Cathedral and is expected to be attended only by close friends and family.

It comes after Formula 1’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), announced yesterday that Mr Bianchi’s former car number – 17 – is to be retired from the sport.

At the Hungarian Grand Prix this Sunday, a minute’s silence is also planned and the Manor team, formerly Marussia and now based in South Yorkshire, will carry the former driver’s name on their car in tribute.