Forums Forums National News Massa to have surgery after crash

Felipe Massa is to undergo surgery after suffering skull damage, cuts and concussion during a high-speed accident in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.

The Ferrari driver, 28, slammed head on into a tyre wall after a piece of debris that had fallen off Ruben Barrichello's Brawn car hit his helmet.

Ferrari said his condition upon arrival at a Budapest hospital was "stable" and that the Brazilian was conscious.

He will remain "under observation in intensive care" after the operation.

The incident comes less than a week after Henry Surtees, 18, was killed in what was described as a "freak" accident during a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch.

The son of motorsport legend John Surtees was struck by a wheel which flew off a competitor's car.

Massa - winner of 11 grands prix in his career - did manage to briefly apply the brakes as went off the Hungaroring track before his car hit the tyre wall at around 125mph.

The incident was caused by a car part that had minutes earlier fallen off the rear suspension of Barrichello's Brawn, which subsequently flew up and hit Massa's helmet causing considerable impact.

Massa was swiftly attended to by trackside medics before being taken to the circuit's medical centre after which he was airlifted to hospital for further examination.

sky news

Skull damage? Oo-er. I thought he was ok

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looks nasty that!

breaking news - SSN say hes in life threatening condition following surgery on skull fracture

but ment to be stable

not looking good man!

So sad - very talented driver. I hope he recovers.

Marshalls should have spotted the debris

How when it was flying off his car at that time and at that speed ffs. You can't predict something like that happening ergo you can't place the blame at the marshal's feet. Just an unfortunate accident that looks like it may prove fatal judging by that picture of him. Looks like his right pupil is blown - not a good sign.

Rant over

It fell off somebodies car earlier, then was kicked up.

They can't be expected to pick up every single piece of debris "just in case" though. I mean what's the average lap time on that circuit?? 1.30 ish. There is no way that the track can be cleaned up with that kind of lap times, especially as the cars don't all come through together, unless they stop after every lap and have a little brush up.

It's extremely sad but by the very nature of the "job" there are risks that the drivers know and willingly take every time they get in the cars.

F1 - if a marshall spots any debris on track he should wave yellow and red striped flag immediately.

In practice it's not that easy though. Do they know how long it was between it coming off and being kicked up? We can sit and debate until we're blue in the face but it won't change anything

Do we blame the team that own the car it came off? The company that made the car and all parts? The Marshals? The driver who flicked it up? Massa for being there at the wrong place at the wrong time?? Do you see what I'm getting at?? It was just a series of events that yes, probably COULD have been avoided, unfortunately they weren't.

I'm sure they will investigate it though.

There will be an inquiry as to how and why the part came off.

There are two stories as to when the part came off, one says "four seconds", the other says "some minutes", both stating the same car (Barrichello's). I am wondering if it came off Barrichello's car on one lap and was kicked up by Barrichello on another lap, hence the time confusions.

It would be highly unlikely the Marshalls would be penalised, unless it was very obvious they should have seen the part, or they did see it and ignored it.

However I hope it is a reminder to the Marshalls that they have to keep a look out for stuff like this - it can kill.

fookin ell looks bad. hope all is well for him.