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FELIPE MASSA SHOWS SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT
INJURED - Felipe Massa's helmet took the brunt of the flying chunk of metal
Brazilian awake after brain op following freak 175mph crash
Felipe Massa exclusive | Ferrari ace first interview after coma
I came out of a coma and then started fighting with my brother
FELIPE MASSA is showing signs of improvement after emergency surgery following a freak 175mph crash in Hungary.
Brazilian ace Massa, 28, was airlifted to hospital for an operation to repair a fracture to his skull.
The horrifying shunt during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix came just six days after British teenager Henry Surtees was killed on a track.
Massa was in 'life-threatening' condition immediately after the operation - but is now awake and able to communicate "actively" and move his hands and legs though he cannot speak.
F1 ace Felipe Massa hit by debris in Hungary crash
A Hungarian defence ministry spokesman said Massa will undergo another scan. Istvan added: "He's woken up [from sedation] more often and is able to communicate actively," added Istvan Bocskai.
"We are optimistic, in our hope a slow recovery is beginning."
Massa was struck on the helmet by a piece of debris that flew off the rear suspension of fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car.
The metal, possibly a massive spring weighing up to a kilogram, took a huge chunk out of Massa's helmet and knocked him unconscious.
His Ferrari shot across the gravel before burying itself in a tyre barrier. Massa was left in the car for several minutes as two ambulances rushed to the incident.
He was raced to the Hungaroring's medical centre before being flown by helicopter to hospital with his manager Nicholas Todt and brother Eduardo.
EMERGENCY - Felipe Massa is flown to hospital
Officials at the AEK military hospital said Massa was put into an induced coma and kept on a respirator overnight in the intensive care unit.
The accident was horrifically similar to the one that killed rookie Surtees. The 18-year-old son of F1 and motorbike legend John was hit on the helmet by a tyre at Brands Hatch.
It also brought memories flooding back of Ayrton Senna's death at Imola in 1994 when a piece of debris penetrated his helmet as the three-time world champ hit a concrete wall.
But championship leader Jenson Button insisted the two latest incidents would not affect him.
The Brawn GP ace said: "All drivers know the danger is there. We are not stupid.
"It is always in the back of your mind but we are here to race cars so you have to give it your all.
"To have something come back on the circuit and just to hit you on the head . . . that's the worst possible thing that could happen. They are freak accidents but what happened will not change our approach."
Massa's crash held up qualifying yesterday afternoon for 20 minutes as his mangled car was towed back to the pits.
Barrichello visited Massa in hospital after qualifying. The Brazilian, 37, said: "When I first looked at the impact it didn't appear huge and I thought he was OK. But then I asked somebody from Ferrari and they said he was not speaking so I started to get worried.
"It was only later someone told me it was a bit of my car but it had nothing to do with me going to see him. I would have gone anyway.
"We are Brazilians and sometimes we have a family, sometimes we don't, and when we wake up all we want to see is someone we know.
"I wanted to be there in case there was nobody from his family there.
INJURED - Felipe Massa piles into the tyre wall
Barrichello refused to believe the two incidents this week were merely coincidence and he insists further improvements in safety can be made, despite the enormous strides taken over the years since Senna's death.
He added: "I honestly don't believe in coincidences in life. Things happen for a reason and I think this is the second message.
"Imola was a message and the cars were improved - now something needs to be done again."
World champion Lewis Hamilton backed Barrichello's call for more work on improving the cars' safety.
The British driver said: "I saw the crash during qualifying. It's very scary and I do hope he is OK.
"It has to be a big shock for any driver to have that happen, and very unfortunate because you rarely see it happen.
"I believe things happen for a reason and for two incidents to happen in such a short period of time, we can't ignore it. We've got to make sure we learn from it and improve if we can."
During qualifying there was more chaos when the timing screens went blank, leaving the drivers and millions of TV viewers not knowing who was on pole.
The drivers were asking each other what time they did before Renault's Fernando Alonso was told he had bagged his 18th career pole.
Embarrassed F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone raged: "The timing was a shambles. I don't know whose fault it was but we will get to the bottom of it."
Button was eighth fastest in his Brawn and Hamilton was a season's-best fourth on the grid in his McLaren.
The Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were second and third.
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This article has 58 comments
Get well soon Felipe thinking of you .
By Bez Newman.. Posted July 28 2009 at 8:41 AM.
God bless u, Massa!
By Nguyen huu thong.. Posted July 28 2009 at 8:05 AM.
Love ferrari,love you.Your Wife and coming child need you. Love and best wishes for a speedy recovery.xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
By sue.. Posted July 27 2009 at 12:04 AM.
Love ferrari,love you.Your Wife and coming child need you. Love and best wishes for a speedy recovery.xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
By sue.. Posted July 27 2009 at 12:03 AM.
Get well soon. Awful accident.x
By Jo.. Posted July 26 2009 at 10:11 PM.
Hope you are ok Massa, you will be fine
By Balin.. Posted July 26 2009 at 9:24 PM.
A terrible accident, especially after the Surtees incident last week. Maybe one day F1 cars will have roofs and windscreens?
By Vee.. Posted July 26 2009 at 9:54 PM.
Terrible accident, hope Felippe is well very soon, my thoughts are with his family xx
By Heather.. Posted July 26 2009 at 9:02 PM.
Fan or not, you have to love Massa, hang on in there Massa, we all want to see you recover from this. More safety is a must!
By Laura Taylor.. Posted July 26 2009 at 8:08 PM.
As a close family friend, I would like to thank all you guys for such words. Thank you very much. Please, keep him in your prayers.
By Alex.. Posted July 26 2009 at 8:01 PM.
Forza Flipe. We loved yu ferry much! Heng in theerr!
By Georgina.. Posted July 26 2009 at 7:35 PM.
i always wonder why bad things happens to good people and i still cant get any answer!i hope to see u well and on the race felipe
xxxx.
By mattaneh.. Posted July 26 2009 at 7:07 PM.
Am not a fan of Massa,but i really respect him.
i also believe FiA can do better.
i wish him a quick Recovery and may the Good Lord strengthen His Family in this trying Moment.
By michael.. Posted July 26 2009 at 7:09 PM.
Get well soon. Forza Felipe!
By Nat McBride Lockwood.. Posted July 26 2009 at 6:39 PM.
Felipe I pray for you day and night.You will get through this.I am your biggest fan and Im proud of it.God bless you.I support you all these years and I love you men.You will be always in my heart..We will miss you...Don't worry you will be fine and next year you will take the championchip YOU DESERVE..lOVE YOU AND TRUST YOU .NOMATTER WHAT HAPPENS..
By Thomi Litena.. Posted July 26 2009 at 6:12 PM.
this must be the most unlucky thing i have ever seen. one inch either way. i hope he gets better soon i think this man is the main man
By chris bingham.. Posted July 26 2009 at 5:15 PM.
Massa is fighter, we will se him wining again... Hold on Felipe !!!
By Marin.. Posted July 26 2009 at 4:41 PM.
Having seen the tragic Surtees accident last week, I'm just glad there wasn't another fatality this time. Amazed that this freak accident has repeated itself within a week, this time on the big stage. GWS
By Teri.. Posted July 26 2009 at 2:02 PM.
Brilliant driver, hope Massa recovers well with the love of his family around him.
It reminds us its an interesting yet very dangerous sport, even though they make it look easy!
Good Luck to all the drivers especially Hamilton and Button - do us Brits proud !!
By Sash.. Posted July 26 2009 at 12:55 PM.
he's very lucky.
the last news confirmed:
no complications, now we wait the official comunication.
he's can back in approximatly 6 weeks
By federico from italy.. Posted July 26 2009 at 12:15 PM.
Felipe, I remember speaking to you after the British grand prix in 05. Back then I knew you would drive for Ferrari and could not wait for this to happen. You are my favourite driver and I wish you a speedy recovery. I hope to see you racing again soon and look forward to speaking to you again. I am a huge fan and I believe that you can win every race regardless of your starting position and I know that you will win this one too. Take care Felipe & get well soon..
By Matt Fenech.. Posted July 26 2009 at 11:41 AM.
Felipe you are to Ferrari, what Lewis is to Mclaren. Hope u get well soon and wish you a speedy recovery. Am sure all the Tifosi are behind you. Get well soon
By Riz.. Posted July 26 2009 at 10:58 AM.
I'm from Hungary, and i write because you know, Massa is better. Massa's state is stable, there was no complication during the operation.
get well Massa!
By giuli.. Posted July 26 2009 at 10:52 AM.
Come Massa..
Get well soon. You're a great driver and you are such a great role model..All the thoughts with you and your family. Felipe, I know you are strong soo I expect you for speedy recovery.
God Bless you son.
By dhamo.. Posted July 26 2009 at 10:48 AM.
The sound of the Ferrari engine at full throtlle after the crash is still in my head, for me it was the first sign that this was a major incident.
Brazil 2008 brought tears to my eyes, what a fighter with such bad luck (remember Hungary 2008, Singapore 2008). Now Felipe is fighting for his life..... Wish you al the best, hope you'll recover soon!
COME ON FELIPE !!!
By Paul .. Posted July 26 2009 at 10:40 AM.
get well soon massa.
By brett.. Posted July 26 2009 at 10:30 AM.
Thinking of you, Felipe, hope you're back on track soon
By Kelly.. Posted July 26 2009 at 10:17 AM.
Get well soon Felipe, I hope you make a speedy recovery and are back on the track soon, love to you and your family, thinking of you.
By Wendy.. Posted July 26 2009 at 10:05 AM.
You will pull through, Massa come on!!
By brian.. Posted July 26 2009 at 9:55 AM.
He's a fighter is Felipe, if anyone can recover from this,, he can. Praying for you & your family.xx
By debs.. Posted July 26 2009 at 9:24 AM.
Is hoping Felipe a speedy recovery, thinking of you and your family at this difficult time.
By vikki.. Posted July 26 2009 at 9:07 AM.
Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery...Best Wishes to you and your family...
By lynn.. Posted July 26 2009 at 9:00 AM.
All the best for a speedy recovery
By Fester from Wednesbury.. Posted July 26 2009 at 8:22 AM.
Go for it fellippe you have the spirit to win good luck
By eltel.. Posted July 26 2009 at 6:52 AM.
sincerely hope Felipe makes a full recovery. This has to be an all consuming worry for his family. I hope they know that our love and prayers are with Felipe and them, until he makes a full recovery and he is back racing again. want to see you back to win the championship you deserve next year. my thoughts are with you and your family.
By SAIF ALNAIMI.. Posted July 26 2009 at 6:30 AM.
Felipe, I am your biggest fan I have followed your career since the sauber days nothing would make me happier than to see you fighting for the world championship again you are an inspiration to me and my family and now my families prayers are with you. god bless you.
By daniel.. Posted July 26 2009 at 6:09 AM.
Get well soon felipe praying for you to have a speedy recovery.
By lorraine .. Posted July 26 2009 at 5:42 AM.
u have been my insipartion . after michael its all you. you will come back for sure and race . v pray for your speedy recovery
By salman.. Posted July 26 2009 at 5:28 AM.
GO MASSA !
By Eswainde.. Posted July 26 2009 at 4:52 AM.
Being a huge Ferrari fan since a young kid you tend to take things like this a little more personally it's like a member of your own family.I also raced karts for 13 years and I can completely understand how very unfortunate an accident like this can happen and the driver is not at all at fault.It's the worst type of accident that can happen It's like Christiano DaMatta's accident when he hit the deer in the champ car series.What I will alway's remember your 2008 season when fought like a Lyon and came up short and yet it was so close.You're a very strong guy and if any one can pull through it's you. Again I hope Felipe a speedy recovery .I would like nothing more than to see you fight like a Lyon in the years to come and win a second world championship(in my eyes)next time you will get the trophy too.For now don't even stress about going back to racing just relax and get well. Best wishes again on a speedy recovery your fan Mike Dube
By mike dube.. Posted July 26 2009 at 2:47 AM.
Being a huge Ferrari fan since a young kid you tend to take things like this a little more personally it's like a member of your own family.I also raced karts for 13 years and I can completely understand how very unfortunate an accident like this can happen and the driver is not at all at fault.It's the worst type of accident that can happen It's like Christiano DaMatta's accident when he hit the deer in the champ car series.What I will alway's remember your 2008 season when fought like a Lyon and came up short and yet it was so close.You're a very strong guy and if any one can pull through it's you. Again I hope Felipe a speedy recovery .I would like nothing more than to see you fight like a Lyon in the years to come and win a second world championship(in my eyes)next time you will get the trophy too.For now don't even stress about going back to racing just relax and get well. Best wishes again on a speedy recovery your fan Mike Dube
By mike dube.. Posted July 26 2009 at 2:49 AM.
This is a time for prayer to a speedy to Massa. God bless!
By Cortez Maynard.. Posted July 26 2009 at 2:40 AM.
hope you make a full recover massa you are a great driver
By gerald and jean .. Posted July 26 2009 at 2:32 AM.
may god be with you massa, refuah shelamah, quick recovery
By nascar1234.. Posted July 26 2009 at 1:52 AM.
Felipe has always proven himself to be a true and great sportsman as well as a wonderful driver. I hope he makes a full and quick recovery and we can see him grace the grid again next season before finally achieving the WDC his talent, attitude and professionalism deserve.
By zz.. Posted July 26 2009 at 1:49 AM.
Felipe has always proven himself to be a true and great sportsman as well as a wonderful driver. I hope he makes a full and quick recovery and we can see him grace the grid again next season before finally achieving the WDC his talent, attitude and professionalism deserve.
By zz.. Posted July 26 2009 at 1:49 AM.
You and your family are in my prayer circle Felipe. God, please have mercy on your son. Lots of love to you all and get well soon.
By Shannon Hail.. Posted July 26 2009 at 1:14 AM.
Get well soon
By Forever United.. Posted July 26 2009 at 12:41 AM.
Great drivier. Hope you make it.
By Richard Patton.. Posted July 25 2009 at 11:20 PM.
Felipe... sendng love and get well wishes from the UK
(Top photo say's it all...)
By Karen.. Posted July 25 2009 at 11:31 PM.
Massa is a true gentleman and never has a bad word to say about anyone let's hope he recovers quickly from this terrible accident. Thoughts with his wife and family.
By Sandra Hunt.. Posted July 25 2009 at 11:50 PM.
Hang on in there Felipe, F1 needs guys like you. I'm not a Ferrari fan but you had more than your share of bad luck last year and I want to see you back to win the championship you deserve next year. my thoughts are with you and your family.
By Keith Bushby.. Posted July 26 2009 at 12:19 AM.
Im not a Massa fan but you have to take your hat off to those guys... brave and nuts... hope he makes a full recovery and is back in F1 very soon.
By Anthony Donaghy.. Posted July 26 2009 at 12:22 AM.
I am not a Ferrari fan, but I am and F1 fan and I sincerely hope Felipe makes a full recovery. This has to be an all consuming worry for his family. I hope they know that our love and prayers are with Felipe and them, until he makes a full recovery and he is back racing again.
I am a Lewis fan and our love hate relationship would not be complete without Massa, besides that, even though Felipe drives for Ferrari, I cannot help but like him, he seems such a nice guy.
Get well soon Felipe xxx
By Lizzie.. Posted July 26 2009 at 12:20 AM.
I'm a huge Massa fan and I'm praying 4 him 2 make a full recovery after such a terrible accident.
By joanna teague.. Posted July 25 2009 at 10:50 PM.
BEST WISHES TO A GREAT DRIVER WE ARE THINKING OF HIM AT THIS TIME
By stephen warner.. Posted July 25 2009 at 9:55 PM.
It's amazing the enormous lengths that the teams and the FiA got to, to help improve the safety for drivers and pit crews, but unfotunately in the world of motor sport the accidents do happen, its part of a very dangerous career.
May our thoughts and well wishes be with him for a speedy recovery and his family during this tense time.
By Jimmy Porter.. Posted July 25 2009 at 10:23 PM.
I am not a fan of Massa, but I hope he'll be ok.
He is an excellant driver and he does keep the others racers on their toes.
By Lorna Wanstall.. Posted July 25 2009 at 7:23 PM.