Domenicali: We were cultivating Jules to drive for Ferrari

The late Jules Bianchi was destined for a future race seat at Ferrari according to the Maranello team's former boss Stefano Domenicali, as the F1 world mourns the talented 25-year-old Frenchman's tragic death.

Bianchi, who was 25 when his Marussia struck a recovery vehicle in Japan last year, died in his native Nice last Friday following a nine month coma.

"Jules was always at Maranello to grow and cultivate his dream of driving for Ferrari," said Italian Domenicali, who was team boss at the team while Bianchi was the cream of Ferrari's driver development academy.

"Our idea was that, after Marussia, he would go to another team to grow and become ready for the big jump [to Ferrari]. This is what we planned a few years ago, but unfortunately fate has taken it away," he told Sky Italia.

Domenicali continued: "These have been very sad months. Jules was the first driver of the Ferrari academy, and over the years I was always met by a smiling Jules, always positive."

"We were convinced that a great future was waiting for him. He deserved a different fate," he concluded.

The Ferrari connection started in August 2009, when Bianchi was linked to the second Ferrari seat occupied by Luca Badoer during Felipe Massa's absence due to injury sustained in qualifying in Hungary.

Although the move to Ferrari that year did not transpire, Bianchi was nevertheless was called up by Ferrari to the young drivers test at Jerez for two in December 2009.

Bianchi's impressive performance during the test led to him becoming the first recruit of the Ferrari Driver Academy and signing up to a long-term deal to remain at the team's disposal.

He was confirmed by Ferrari as the team's test and reserve driver for the 2011 season, replacing Luca Badoer, Giancarlo Fisichella and Marc Gené. He also tested for the team during the young driver test in Abu Dhabi in November 2011.

It is well known that Bianchi's placement at Marussia was funded by Ferrari, with a view to him gaining experience and eventually being promoted to a race seat with Ferrari, and in all likelihood he would have been hot favourite to replace Kimi Raikkonen in 2016 at Maranello.