SUZUKA (REUTERS) - The wet Japanese Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday needed two starts behind the safety car and ended before the full distance, owing to a crash that saw Marussia's French driver Jules Bianchi rushed to hospital.

"The driver is not conscious and has been taken to the hospital by the ambulance because the helicopter cannot fly in these conditions. Further updates will follow but for the moment we cannot say anything. I will keep you updated as fast as I can," FIA head of communications Matteo Bonciani said.

The race was red-flagged with 46 of the scheduled 53 laps completed after an accident involving Sauber's Adrian Sutil and Bianchi brought the safety car out for the third time.

There was immediate concern in the aftermath of the accident over Bianchi's well-being, with the medical car and an ambulance being dispatched to the scene of the crash.

No champagne was sprayed on the podium and there were no celebrations.