Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 5:50 pm Post subject: Massa horror crash
Felipe Massa is to undergo surgery after suffering skull damage and concussion in a high-speed accident during Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.
The Ferrari driver, 28, slammed head on into a tyre wall after a piece of debris that had fallen off Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car hit his helmet.
Ferrari said his condition upon arrival at a Budapest hospital was "stable" and that the Brazilian was conscious.
He will remain "under observation in intensive care" after the operation.
The incident comes less than a week after Henry Surtees, 18, was killed in what was described as a "freak" accident during a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch.
The son of motorsport legend John Surtees was struck by a wheel which flew off a competitor's car.
What happened today was a shock
McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh
Massa - winner of 11 grands prix in his career - did manage to briefly apply the brakes as went off the Hungaroring track before his car hit the tyre wall at around 125mph.
The incident was caused by a spring that had seconds earlier fallen off the rear suspension of Barrichello's car and subsequently flew up and hit Massa's helmet just above his left eye causing considerable impact.
Massa was swiftly attended to by trackside medics before being taken to the circuit's medical centre after which he was airlifted to hospital for further examination.
Referring to Surtees, Barrichello refused to believe the two incidents were coincidence and called for further improvements in motorsport safety to be made despite the significant progress since Ayrton Senna's death in 1994.
"I honestly don't believe in coincidences in life," he said. "Things happen for a reason and I think this is the second message.
"Imola [where Senna died] was a message and the cars were improved. Unfortunately, we lost a boy [Surtees], which is tremendously sad.
"It is not a coincidence something happened right now. In the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers' Association) we talked quite a lot about it yesterday - and something needs to be done. Absolutely.
"But I don't know what. We need to sit down and have a look at it. I think the cars are a hell of a lot safer, really a lot safer, but there is no coincidence on this and something needs to be looked at."
Barrichello's team boss Ross Brawn said the team were "naturally concerned" about Massa's condition.
"We had a problem with the back of the car and we are still investigating," he added.
"We haven't had the piece back from [motorsport governing body] the FIA yet so once we get it back we can understand what occurred.
"It's the first time we've really had a problem with the car as it's been so reliable."
McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh added: "What happened today was a shock.
"We've got to make sure we do everything we can to make F1 as safe as it can be.
"But a spring coming off and being in a collision four seconds later is an incredible circumstance and coincidence.
"You have to remember that motor racing is dangerous and that racing drivers are incredibly brave. It's all too easy to become blase about that."
Can't see him driving again in F1 this year, or maybe longer term, given that he has been listed as in a life threatening condition and will undoubtedly now have major metal work in his head that may not like being subjected to the G forces an F1 car creates.
Arguably he has deserved to win a Drivers Championship in the last couple of years, he is definitely a better sportsman than his team mate.
Ferrari's Felipe Massa has shown signs of improvement after having surgery on his fractured skull in Hungary.
Massa, 28, who was hit by a spring from Ruben Barrichello's car on Saturday, is able to communicate "actively" and move his hands and legs but cannot speak.
A Ferrari spokesman said: "Felipe had a quiet night. He is OK, and he is due to have another CT scan today (Monday)."
A Hungarian hospital spokesman said: "We are optimistic in our hope that a slow recovery is beginning."
"He's woken up [from sedation] more often and is able to communicate actively," added Istvan Bocskai, a spokesman for the Hungarian defence ministry, which administers the Budapest hospital where Massa is being treated.
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo will fly to the AEK military hospital on Monday to be at Massa's bedside, along side the driver's father, mother and pregnant wife, who have all flown in from Brazil.
Massa was injured when a spring from fellow Brazilian Barrichello's car struck his helmet during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the Ferrari driver then hitting a tyre wall.
Following Kimi Raikkonen's second-place finish at the Hungaroring on Sunday, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali dedicated the result to Massa.
"At this time all our thoughts are with him and his family, and I think this sentiment also applies to those who are close to him and to fans all over the world," said Domenicali.
"Kimi drove a great race and the team worked in impeccable fashion, concentrating on the job, despite what happened.
"We got the best result we were capable of but please allow me on behalf of everyone at Ferrari to send our best wishes to Felipe. We love you and we are all thinking of you."
Race winner Lewis Hamilton extended his goodwill to Massa following the Briton's first victory of the season.
"Maybe I can speak for all the drivers but Saturday was quite a sad day and we missed Felipe," said the defending world champion.
"For me, I've had a great relationship with Felipe for quite a few years now and some great battles with him.
"I'm just glad the surgery went well and we're just going to keep him in our thoughts and prayers, and we wish him a speedy recovery.
"He's got a child coming, so he needs to get back into top shape so when he's finally a dad he can do the job well."
I would be lying if I said I wasn't thinking of him in the the middle of the race
Brawn GP's Rubens Barrichello
After being struck on the helmet by the 1kg spring from Barrichello's car, Massa's feet are believed to have come to rest on both the throttle and brake and his car ploughed head-on into a tyre wall at about 125mph.
Massa was swiftly attended to by trackside medics before being taken to the circuit's medical centre, after which he was airlifted to hospital.
Meanwhile, Barrichello revealed his thoughts were with Massa, even during the race.
He conceded: "I would love to see him because he is a friend, not just because the spring came from my car.
"It is for the fact that I know he would have done the same for me. But at the same time I have to think of my kids, of my family, and to be there for them, so it is a bit of an emotional moment.
"It is burning a little bit in my stomach, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't thinking of him in the the middle of the race."
Massa's accident came days after Formula Two driver Henry Surtees, 18, was killed in what was described as a freak accident during a race at Brands Hatch.
The son of motorsport legend John Surtees was struck by a wheel that flew off a competitor's car.
Barrichello has led the calls for more stringent safety measures to be looked into. Referring to Surtees, the veteran refused to believe the two incidents were coincidental.
"I honestly don't believe in coincidences in life," he said on Saturday. "Things happen for a reason and I think this is the second message.
The Legend that is PhilSlocombe
"Imola [where Ayrton Senna died in 1994] was a message and the cars were improved. Unfortunately, we lost a boy [Surtees], which is tremendously sad.
"It is not a coincidence something happened right now. In the Grand Prix Drivers' Association we talked quite a lot about it yesterday - and something needs to be done. Absolutely.
"But I don't know what. We need to sit down and have a look at it. I think the cars are a hell of a lot safer, really a lot safer, but there is no coincidence on this and something needs to be looked at."
Hamilton described the crash as "very scary" and said it must be looked into, while Jenson Button said it proved there "is still more we need to do on safety".
Button and Barrichello's team boss Ross Brawn said the team are still investigating why the spring came loose from the car.
"We had a problem with the back of the car and we are still investigating," explained Brawn.
"We haven't had the piece back from [motorsport governing body] the FIA yet so once we get it back we can understand what occurred.
"It's the first time we've really had a problem with the car as it has been so reliable."
Felipe Massa's life is no longer in danger - but an eye injury the Formula 1 driver sustained in a crash could affect his racing future, a doctor has said.
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