Tonight:
9°c
Eye injury means Felipe Massa might never race again
David Smith27.07.09
Felipe Massa has suffered an eye injury which could threaten his Formula One career, it has been revealed.
The Ferrari driver is in a stable condition in intensive care at the AEK military hospital in Budapest after fracturing his skull in a freak accident during qualifying for the Hungary Grand Prix on Saturday.
Although the 28-year-old, still in a medically-induced coma, has shown signs of improvement after undergoing emergency surgery, it has emerged he may have sustained eye problems. The doctor who operated on Massa, Professor Robert Veres, said: “He has suffered some damage to the eye. We don't know if he'll be able to race again.”
Even if he can eventually return to the grid, Veres said that was unlikely to be this season. Earlier today it was claimed that Massa had “a quiet night” as he continued his recovery.
After yesterday's race at the Hungaroring, Massa was visited by Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali, team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and Brawn GP's Rubens Barrichello and boss Ross Brawn. It was a spring that had worked loose on Barrichello's car that hit Massa on his helmet at 162mph, causing his injuries and subsequent crash into a tyre barrier.
A Ferrari spokesman said: “Felipe had a quiet night. He is okay, and he is due to have another CT scan today.” Doctors at the hospital were encouraged by the positive results of yesterday's first CT scan following surgery, and hope Massa continues to show steady improvement.
A spokesman for the Hungarian defence ministry, under whose jurisdiction the hospital is run, has been quoted as saying on local television that Massa is starting to communicate. “He reacts when he's spoken to. We are optimistic a slow recovery is beginning,” said Istvan Bocskai, who also confirmed Massa could move his hands and legs.
Rob Smedley, the English engineer who looks after Massa's Ferrari, has revealed the moment of horror when it seemed his friend had not survived the freak accident.
Smedley, so close to Massa that he calls him his “little brother”, was among the first to visit the Brazilian in hospital.
“There is hope, which at one point there wasn't,” said Smedley. “Felipe is improving, his condition seems to be getting better and better all the time.
“Physically he's in very good shape. There is obviously the main worry about his cerebral injuries, but they seem to be improving and they seem to be not as bad as we first thought.”
Smedley, 35, recalled how he had tried to make urgent radio contact with Massa after the accident which saw the Ferrari career into a tyre barrier at an estimated 170mph.
He said: “When I didn't hear back, it started to get very worrying. Then the doctors arrived on the scene and they eventually extracted him from the car. It's horrendous.”
Reader views (12)
@ Ryan of Bristol, how on earth can you blame Rubens Barrichello for what happened, its not as though he threw the spring from the car now is it. Like the guy said in the video clip this was a 1 in 10million that something fell off a car and even bigger odds of it hitting someone.Can't see bubble cockpits working as this would probably kill the driver anyway from heat exhaustion as its not like you can fit air con to these cars now is it. Think we can just call it a freak accident. Hope he makes a full recovery though.
- Danny, Manchester.uk
In light of this "freak" accident is it time that some sort of bubble canopy is seriously considered in an attempt to minimize this sort of accident.
When you consider how safe the cars are now, is this an area that although vunerable could be improved?
I am not so sure this so freaky....Tom Pryce,Ayrton Senna,Surtees and now Massa come to mind.
- Eric Shropshall, Oldbury,West Midlands
if massa doesnt race again then i blame bricallio and his dumb out of calss brawn team for what has happen to him .
- Ryan, bristol england
can i wish massa a full recovory and would like to see him back to fight another day i wish him all the best and a soeedy return best of luck
- John Stewart, ayr scotland
Poor devil. All health and strength for his recovery.
- Florence D, Reading, UK
I have never met Massa but the dignified way he took his defeat in last years World Championship will live forever with me. A true sportsman and gentleman who I now pray will make a full recovery so as to be able to continue in the sport he loves. With 18 year old Henry Surtees being killed by a flying wheel last week at Brands Hatch and now this what is another freak accident must make all aware of the risk and what can be done to prevent further death or injury
- Mike, London England and once GREAT Britain
Massa is the best F1 driver at the moment, we are here praying that Felipe gets well very soon, and be able to drive a F1 car again and be the champion.
God Bless Felipe!!!
- Frederico Louzada, São José dos Campos, Brasil
Horrific accident. I want to see you racing again. All the world will look for bulletins daily. All the very best.
- Len Holloway, Barton-under-Needwood, England
I feel sad this has happen to you felipe, iam thinking of you, wishing you all best, get well soon, my heart goes out to you and your family . god bless you .
- Mr A Dawson, london england
the bbc had the footage up, but when it became apparent how serious massa's injuries were they took it down.
why do you want to see the footage? what can you learn? he got whacked in the face by a flying spring. end of. your 'annoyance' at not seeing it appears ghoulish and, tbh, disturbing.... whether you have a brain injury or not.
- Balls Deep, london
Whether we rate Felipe as a world class driver and sportsman or not, it doesn't matter. He is a genuine man, has a lovely family (soon to grow) and has all my very best wishes to a speedy recovery and I hope he proves the Doctors wrong by getting back into his seat before the season is up. Get well soon ...
- Graham Hall, Nottingham, UK
as a i am in brain injury recovery myself, i am concerned & very much interested in any information on Felipe Massa,
Finding that the footage for the accident has been taken away from the public by yourselves is very annoying.
And only arouses suspicion to your activities.
This day & age we expect an open highway of information, without this, you appear as elitist & guilty of something.
You as a management could never imagine the long term disturbing nature of a brain injury, nor the effects on the family.
So, why do you want to hide from the people who truly understand?
- Siria Burke, jersey channel islands
