F1's Massa In Intensive Care After Crash

Shar

Source Sky news

Formula One driver Felipe Massa is said to be fighting for his life in hospital following a crash during qualification at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Massa who drives for Ferrari - was airlifted to hospital in Budapest where officials said he is in a "life-threatening but stable" condition after an operation on a skull fracture.

He was hit by a spring which came off the Brawn GP car driven by fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello and then crashed into a tyre wall at 170mph.

"The condition of the driver is serious, but stable," said a spokesman at Budapest's AEK Hospital.

The hospital's chief doctor Peter Bazso added: "At the moment he's under anaesthetic and will be woken up on Sunday."

The 28-year-old Brazilian is winner of 11 Grand Prix and was world championship runner-up in 2008.

Ferrari said that Massa suffered skull damage, cuts to his forehead and brain concussion.

He was hit on the face and was momentarily concussed as his car skewed off the circuit and into the tyre barriers.

The Brawn team confirmed Barrichello's car lost a piece of suspension and on-board video from Massa's Ferrari showed him being struck, losing control and going off the track.

Barrichello said: "My thoughts right now are with Felipe and his family who are really close friends of mine and I hope he is going to be ok and will be fit as soon as possible."

Massa was lifted out of his driver's cockpit after being attended to by medical staff and then taken to the circuit medical centre.

The accident took place shortly before the end of the Q2 mini-session during the hour-long qualifying period in which Massa managed to clock the eighth-fastest time.

I know theres a F1 sticky but wanted to make a seperate thread for this, I pray he recovers.

Shar · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:15 pm Post subject:

Just heard on the news he's stable but still in a critical condition.

Saftlad · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:32 pm Post subject:

I saw this earlier on the news and the guy is very lucky to be alive with the force the spring hit his helmet, added to that the impact of the car hitting the tyre wall.

Shar · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:36 pm Post subject:

Indeed....my heart sank when I heard this, he's very lucky to have survived, hopefully he'll make a full recovery.

Julie C · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:52 am Post subject:

Thoughts & prayers are with him, his family & friends

take care luv Juliexx