Bianchi passed away on Friday night, nine months after suffering serious head injuries in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.

After the funeral cortege arrived at the Sainte Reparate Cathedral in Nice shortly after 10am local time, Bianchi's coffin was carried in for the service by friends and family members.

Large portraits of the former Marussia driver had been hung on the outside of the cathedral, with wreaths having been laid in the nearby square.

Among those who attended the funeral were former world champions Alain Prost, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel, along with current champion Lewis Hamilton.

A majority of the grid were in attendance, including Nico Rosberg, Nico Hulkenberg, Romain Grosjean, Felipe Massa, Marcus Ericsson, Daniil Kvyat, Daniel Ricciardo and Adrian Sutil.

Alexander Wurz, who is president of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), was also there alongside FIA president Jean Todt, who made the decision on Monday to permanently retire the number 17 that Bianchi used.