Latest: Massa crash

Felipe Massa has been stretchered into the Hungaroring medical centre following a bizarre crash during the Formula One Q2 qualifying session.

The Ferrari driver did not steer before slamming head first into a conveyor belt covered tyre barrier at high speed.

The rumour in the wake of the crash was that the Brazilian may have been struck by debris, although speculation he was unconscious at the point of impact seems wide of the mark given the tyre marks in the asphalt run-off area.

Massa, 27, was taken by ambulance to the medical centre and the beginning of the Q3 session, which he was due to participate in, delayed.

He was conscious when taken into the circuit facility, and his countryman Rubens Barrichello visited him and reported afterwards that Massa was talking.

Marshals were seen on the circuit in the wake of the crash, scanning for debris that may have struck Massa.

FIA officials ushered cameras out of the Brawn GP garage during the delay, as the rear suspension of Barrichello's car was inspected.

The Brazilian veteran confirmed that "something broke on the back of the car", and slow motion replays show Massa was indeed struck by something at speed.

The Brawn team confirmed that a piece of the rear suspension was missing.

Former team boss and now BBC commentator Eddie Jordan said one of his unnamed "paddock spies" believe Massa, to be helicoptered to hospital, is only mildly concussed following a blow to the chin.


By Adam Feneley
Motorsport Engineering
www.motorsportengineering.blogspot.com
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