Massa

Eff One · Massa

Didn't like the look of that one bit - deeply scary stuff.

He was clearly conscious when he came out of the ambulance, and was reported to have been conscious on arrival at hospital - but it's since emerged that he's got a brain concussion and is going to need surgery for a skull injury:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77276

Unlikely to be any more news before tomorrow; fingers crossed all will be well.

BeN

Pretty scary stuff. Shades of Senna there.

Big Blue

Whacked on the head by a bit of Barrichello's car from the last news I heard.

Given a Brasilian......

Frank Bullitt

Doesn't bear thinking about if it had hit his neck rather than helmet - let's hope he gets well soon.

Humphrey The Pug

Scary stuff.

Checkout the in car footage of him being hit by whatever it was from Barrichello's car, really violent.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8168855.stm

Big Blue

This is one of the things I can't bear to think about on the bike during the commute. I don't especially hang about and being clouted on the shoulder by small stones flicked up REALLY hurts. Imagine what a flying wheel cover would do

Matt

Thankfully he was able to slow the car a touch.

Just said to my Dad, with Surtees' similar accident last weekend, I sure hope this doesn't come in threes, with some sort of Ratzenberger/Senna-style tragic weekend.

Scouse

Fortunately it was the helmet and not his neck

Big TC

Skyhook

Best capture I could get -

Rodge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16s5PJoyjQo

Apex clipper

Big TC

If you look at the graphic showing the throttle and brake settings on the LHS of the screen, Massa was on full throttle and full brake after the debris hit, right up to the hit against the tyre wall. He was extremely lucky to have the wherewithall to hit the brakes, in his semi-concious state. If he'd have gone in at full chat, I suspect he would be watching the GP from the pearly gates.

Rodge

Big Blue

the other ct

There's a close up version of that photo on the News of the World site. He looks in a bad way. Thought it would be in poor taste to post it though, it sounds like he isn't out of the woods yet.

Gooner

Chris M Wants a V-10

From what I have read, I think it would be surprising to see him back behind the wheel of an F1 car this season. I wish him a speedy recovery; it's a very nasty injury. There is/was a close-up of his face and helmet on a foreign language newspaper/F1 site that I came across last night. Very, very lucky to have survived the impact

Sav

Its just terrible, I hope Massa gets better soon.

TimR

Just saw a quick interview with Barrichello from this morning, I think.

He was outside the hospital and said the doctors have told him Massa should be ok and that when he was woken up he recognised his dad and brother fine.

Big Blue

Boxer6

Mike Amos

He apparently he has an eye injury which may rule him out of F1 and maybe more. No sight loss mentioned earlier would be in line with the form book given the seriousness of the shunt. Loss of an eye would usually occur in the immediate aftermath of the accident. Not a nice situation to be in. I wish him well.

Parm

Looks like he sustained a serious eye injury. Could be the end of his career...

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/241870/

Boxer6

From that, it seems no-one is really sure about anything yet.

Fingers crossed.

Twelfth Monkey

I really feel for Massa if the fears about his eye are well-founded. Here's hoping against hope for a full recovery and return to the cockpit.

Rodge

It's a shame that it's happened as his career was taking off. I know he hasn't been as good this year as he was last year but he has alot more wins in him and I really hope he gets his sight back soon and is driving in F1 again.

In the meantime, who will Ferrari get to replace him? I can't see them employing Bruno Senna as he has links with McLaren, they might go for someone like Adam Carroll? He won the A1GP championship this year and did it in a Ferrari engined car. He's already (allegedly) been approached by up to 5 teams for an F1 drive next year.

"him"

I am sure I have missed this, but why are they suggesting that having a damaged left eye is going to end his career?

Rodge

There were some rumours that he was going to have poor vision/blindness in his eye after the crash but according to Autosport, things are looking up (Pun intended).

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77383

Eff One

As I understand it, the doctors are concerned that he might have an eye injury, but as of yesterday he hadn't been able to open his left eye, so they couldn't tell. A report that he definitely has eye damage was quickly refuted - they just don't know yet, and probably won't for several days.

TimR

The picture of him with his left eye closed indicates some damage around the eye but that doesn't mean the actual eye itself is damaged.

If it is then I expect his F1 career will be over.

I managed to walk into a twig 12 months ago and scraped my cornea and even now it still gives me bother - I have to put cream in it every night before going to sleep as otherwise it will dry out during the night and then cause absolute agony (the cornea is the most sensitive bit on your body

) if I open my eye in the morning without being very careful.
It also sometimes feels tired during the day.

I can't imagine a damaged eye being able to put up with the G forces F1 creates without some negative reaction.

TimR

BBC are reporting that Michael Schumacher's spokeswoman has said that if Ferrari ask him to fill in for Massa he'll consider it but is not currently taking any part in the decision making process.

"him"

The "Stig" in F1... who will drive at Dunsfold for the rest of the year?

Seriously though, it would be interesting to see how quick he is after being out of F1 for a while!

the other ct

Maybe. TG might not be back until Nov!

Can't believe Coulthard is mentioned as a possible.

Getting back to Massa, it's worth remembering that the deep cut above his eye may not be the problem. He could have a detached retina, or similar injury due to the heavy blow, or damage was done to the area of the brain needed for vision. But it's all pessimistic speculation at the moment.

Matt

Would love to see Schumi - no pressure means he could drive that bitch and spank it!

Big Blue

Given that I have 2 tickets for the first chicane at Monza on my bookshelf I would be quite chuffed to see Schumacher race a Ferrari on home soil, even if he's totally shit.

Which of course he won't be. He'll rip the field apart and bacsue Kimi has no hope for a title there will be no holds barred on that internal battle; might even kick Kimi's arse into action to be up against the undisputed king of the turn of the century.

Gooner

I hope Massa can make a full recovery. He was so close to winning the title last year, it would really suck to see him have to bow out without reaching his full potential. Schumi might find it difficult to cope with the G force on his neck if he returned, he is 40 after all!

I'm still a bit miffed that Brawn allowed the car out despite knowing there was a suspension problem. Much as Renault let out an unsafe car, surely Brawn, it could be argued, have done the same even if they were a lot less likely to have been able to predict that the item in question would have fallen off.

Eff One

Massa is due to leave hospital in Hungary on Monday, and will return to Brazil, just nine days after the accident: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77451

Fantastic news and I wish him all the best for a speedy recovery. We might never know all the details - and perhaps that's as it should be - but for a few hours last Saturday evening it was touch and go.

DaveGibson

According to Autocar, he wants to race at Valencia, too.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Here he is today at the airport, on his way back to Brazil. Obviously his recovery will take some time, but good to see him on his feet again:

Pkh72

Good to see him up and about and f**k me he's gonna have an impressive trophy scar!

Big TC

Jeeze, the man looks lucky to still have the regular number of eyes, doesn't he?

Eff One

There are reports in the Italian media today that Massa will be back in the car at Monza.

That would be 48 days after the accident.

Apparently he is making remarkable progress and I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the paddock at Monza - but will be amazed if he races.

DaveGibson

In 1976, Niki Lauda raced his Ferrari at Monza only six weeks after being given the Last Rites following his Nurburgring crash. He finished fourth.

Big TC

I'm sure Lauda would be prevented from racing with such injuries today. But his return so soon after nearly losing his life was quite epic.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Massa is now aiming to be back for his home GP on 18 October.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8208384.stm

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Interview here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/08/felipe-massa-interview

TimR

Seems he's accepted that he won't be back until next season.