FOR SURE...the guy put in one hell of a lap. And WTF what's up with the timeing.

 

I think that he (Massa) and the car will be OK for the race tomorrow. That had to have been a shock to be hit like that. He probably didn't even know what happened.

Wurz is probably better for development of the car. I just thought that the team was suppose to be for U.S. drivers. I guess plans change.

 

Massa will not drive tomorrow. He has undergone surgery.

He is stable and under monitoring in the intensive care unit.

More here:

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9671.html

 

Massa had surgery and will not be racing on sunday.

"Jul.25 (GMM) The outcome of Felipe Massa's head surgery late on Saturday was "positive", Ferrari confirmed in a statement.

The Brazilian driver is now in intensive care, and unofficial word from the central Budapest hospital AEK is that the operation was to remove a piece of damaged bone from his left eye-socket.

Speculation suggests the surgery took two hours and Massa, 28, is now under observation. Brazilian media reports say the 2008 championship runner-up is expected to make a full recovery."

 

My father had that kind of surgery once upon a time. I think he will be out for a while. First there will be a problem with G forces on his eye. And also, it could create an inner ear problem because the sinuses run in that area.

 

Wow. What a crazy qualifying session. that was so random how the rear suspension heave spring broke off and then Massa managed to catch it right on the helmet! It must have shattered his visor to have broken his eye socket. Very chilling.

I'm glad to hear he'll recover fully but man that's really tragic for him since he's finally starting to be competitive with the Chassis this year.

 

Pictures of the aftermath

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/The-Fo...3193084ff260ee

 

Dammn

Very mixed emotions here... My 2 favorite drivers in a completely different outcome. I feel happy for Alonso. I am sure he is very light but he proved once again that he's got what it takes...

On the other hand, the only thing that matter at this point is to pray for Massa for a full recovery. It's amazing how easy we forget that this IS a dangerous sport.

All jokes aside, driver's safety and well being is what counts when risking their lives for our "entertainment".

My prays are with Massa... Not a weekend to be so thrilled.

Carlos

 

not sure how old this is, but man i really hope massa gets back soon. i always liked him, and just sucks to see this happen to such a great driver.


Hospital says Massa's condition 'life-threatening'


Felipe Massa is in a "life-threatening" condition on Saturday night after undergoing surgery on his fractured skull.

Brawn team boss Ross Brawn confirmed that the piece of Rubens Barrichello's car that fell off and struck Massa on the helmet at the Hungaroring during qualifying weighed 800 grams and is made of steel.

It resulted in the 28-year-old Brazilian driver sustaining a cut forehead, skull damage and brain concussion, and after surgery he is in intensive care in the central Budapest hospital AEK.

During a news conference, hospital medical director Peter Bazso said Massa's condition "is serious, life-threatening but stable", according to the AP wire service.

Chief surgeon Lajos Zsiros added that Massa is sedated and on a respirator, a condition that will continue overnight, and that he is expected to be woken up on Sunday.

Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni however denied that Massa is fighting for his life. He said the Italian team will issue an update on Massa's condition late Sunday morning.

The rear spring that struck Massa's helmet has been impounded by the FIA.

"A spring coming off and being in a collision four seconds later is an incredible circumstance and coincidence," McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is quoted as saying by the BBC.

"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."


http://www.worldcarfans.com/10907262...fe-threatening

 

Massa's condition is described as 'serious but stable'
Contradictory reports of Felipe Massa’s condition following his crash in qualifying today are causing a lot of confusion.

I’ve tried to collect some of the reports below in an effort to make sense of them and give as clear a picture as possible of what’s going on:
BBC News, 9:32pm:

The Associated Press news agency quoted a hospital spokesman as saying Massa’s condition was “life-threatening”. But Ferrari denied the reports, insisting the operation was “positive”.

Rubens Barrichello on Twitter, 9:01pm:

I just came back from the hospital.Felipe went trough a cirurgy which went very well.Now he is asleep waiting for a new scan tomorrow

James Allen on Twitter, 8:19pm:

Ignore reports on Sky/AP that Massa is in life threatening condition. He’s stable after an op and will be okay. Long recuperation though

Sky:

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.

Several people are questioning the accuracy of the Sky story, similar versions of which have appeared on Planet F1, Yahoo, AP and others. Sky seem to have removed it from their F1 home page now.

If you have any further updates on the story please post them below or share them with me via Twitter.

All times BST

Other questions people are asking
Will Ferrari be able to field a third driver in tomorrow’s race? Not as I understand - see this article for more on the rules regarding driver changes at races.

Who will Ferrari use to replace Massa if he cannot race later this season? It looks like Massa will have a long recuperation. They could use either of their third drivers - Luca Badoer or Marc Gene, both of which have F1 experience. But they are not limited to just those drivers - they could use someone else.

What did Massa hit? According to Ross Brawn it was a spring from Barrichello’s car weighing around 800g.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/07/2...tening-injury/

 

The spring is there to counter the rear wing at speed, to keep the back of the car from completely compressing.

That whole qualifying seesion was crazy

Michael

 

Alonso is on a three stop strategy. He was 20 kg lighter than the other cars, thats how he managed to clinch the pole.

Race start weights:
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9673.html

I don't think Alonso is aiming to beat red bull. He was barely faster than the red bulls with the current fuel level so that he would be able to maintain the lead while stopping once more, very unlikely.

His only chance for a podium is to pull away much in the start so he might be in the front after the first pit stop. I think Vettel and Webber might have a few objections to that.

Another person who can put a stick in Alonsos wheel is Hamilton. A quick KERS start and then Alonso will be suffering behind a slower McLaren car lap after lap without being able to take any advantage at all out of his lesser fuel load. The same goes if Vettel or Webber passes him into the first corner, but they shouldn't considering the they have the same power plant and heavier cars.

I am looking forward to some nice battles on the trrack, and Alonso/Hamilton battles are the best because they are both totally fearless and edging on insane. (Remember on Silverstone his year, Alonso and Hamilton fighting it out over 16th place I think. Glorious!)

 

If you can't see it live on TV, http://www.ustream.tv/channel/formula-one-live

 

But what the hell did the pit-ninjas in Renault do?

I was really interested in seeing the result of Alonso's three stop strategy. I really felt sorry for him as his wheel took its leave from his car. I think he would have managed 4th or 5th place if he had been able to drive to the end. To challenge the top 3 would have been impossible. He couldn't even pull away from Hamilton in stint one even if his car was 20 kg lighter. Actually the contrary: Hamilton caught up to Alonso, while ecodriving his car. Thats why Lewis could pit after Webber even if he had started with less fuel than Webber.

Really nice to see the KERS cars doing well too. I believe the McLaren speed is genuine and the package will be almost as competitive on a track like Silverstone (long high speed corners) now.

 

dang, really felt bad for alonso. but then again, he wouldnt had won the race. since hamilton was like 1 sec beind him the whole time.

i find it funny that alonso didnt finish the race. i wonder how polo felt about him pitting his car , when he should of fought till the end LOL

 

If Raikkonen can finish second in the race, I wonder where Massa would have finished? He is the better of the two drivers after all.

 

well 2 of my favorite drivers made 1st and 2nd. yes ferrari fans, i like do like kimi alot, always have. but doesnt mean i like ferrari

 

I don't like both of them
Hamilton for the reasons i said in the 2008 thread, Kimi because he often gives up and doesn't fight 'till the end.
They both did a great race today though, and what a start!

 

for some reason i always liked kimi attitude. he so daze and confused all the time.

 

Gimme a couple of long islands and i'll be dazed and confused too!

 

lmao very trrue. its fun making fun of kimi



btw polo suprise gift to you

 

Massa under sedation after scan
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...ne/8168807.stm
It seems, at one point on Saturday, they didn't know how he would turn out.

Renault gets race ban for wheel loss
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.a...46489&PO=46489

No action taken on Raikkonen incident
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77353
Red Bull, on the other hand, got a reprimand for Webber's release in the pitlane.

 

The best car and driver won today... as simple as that.

I do feel very bad for Alonso. I think he could have finished 4th with his less than stelar chassis... Red Bulls use the same engine and a chassis, as we all know, make a big difference...

McLaren chassis is coming to life now and the championship is getting better, much better.

Of course I am not happy, but heck I believe Hamilton was better today than everyone else. Congrats.

Hoping to have Massa back soon. Heck maybe Michael can come back and give everyone a lesson.

Heck maybe even Alonso?? 2 birds with one stone... I'd love to see this.. Now Kimi can concentrate in his Rally future while Massa rests comfortably

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090726/F1/907269991

Good race overall...

Carlos

 

I read an article saying that Michael is not interested... kinda sucks because it would've been quite a show to see him back

 

Fully agreed. I was screaming at the TV when it happened. Something about Renault had hired people from Ferrari to learn how to fuckup a pitstop. Seriously, Ferrari took the championship from Massa last year with their consistent messing up. And this Renault-mistake was well in class with anything Ferrari could produce last year.

4th place sounds like a very reasonable outcome and I bet Alonso is miffed with his team right now.

And oh, of course the stupid race stewards have to mess things up further:
Renault is suspended from the next race due to that mistake!
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/7/9684.html

What idiots, it was obviously a stress mistake more than anything else. We want Alonso in the next race because he always puts on a good show. Piquet can also be very entertaining spinning around on the circuit. Its like taking the best acrobat and the clown out of a circus show!