A personal friend of world champion Fernando Alonso was among the two F1-related people who were killed in the helicopter crash near Magny Cours on Saturday night.

It emerges that personnel for F1's tyre supplier Bridgestone were aboard the aircraft but escaped death, and are currently recuperating with unspecified serious injuries in hospitals in Nevers and Dijon.

"I apologise for being brief but my thoughts today were with those who were involved in (the) accident.  It was difficult to concentrate on the race," the Japanese marque's Kees van de Grint said on Sunday.

Alonso's friend was Emmanuel Longobardi, who worked on public relations for Quiksilver, a sportswear clothing brand.  It is believed that Spaniard Alonso, who finished seventh in the French grand prix wearing a black armband, had spoken with Longobardi just hours before the crash at 8pm.

Also killed was a member of the F1 clothing company Alpinestars, while Nicolas Duqesne and his niece Chloe survived, although their condition is not known.

Source: GMM