Massa out of emergency surgery: "life threatening" but stable

Felipe Massa's condition has been described as "serious but stable" following emergency surgery after he suffered skull damage and concussion.
The Brazilian hit a tyre wall after a spring from Rubens Barrichello's car flew up and hit Massa's helmet during Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.
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".
The Italian team said Massa will remain under observation in intensive care and Ferrari will make a further statement on his condition on Sunday.
AEK military hospital medical director Peter Bazso added: "At the moment he's under anaesthetic and will be woken up on Sunday."
AP quoted a statement from the Hungarian defence department as saying: "At the time he was admitted to hospital his condition was stable and he was breathing and blood circulation was normal.
"During the course of his examination they established that he suffered a serious, life-threatening injuries including loss of consciousness and a fracture of the forehead on the left side and a fracture on the base of the skull."
Barrichello said on his Twitter feed that he had visited his compatriot Massa in hospital and the surgery "went very well. Now he is asleep waiting for a new scan tomorrow".
The incident comes days after Formula Two driver Henry Surtees, 18, was killed in what was described as a "freak" accident during a 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 ploughed head on into a tyre wall at around 125mph.
The 28-year-old was swiftly attended to by trackside medics before being taken to the circuit's medical centre after which he was airlifted to hospital.
Barrichello later led the calls for more stringent safety measures to be looked into.
Referring to Surtees, the veteran Brazilian refused to believe the two incidents were coincidental.
"I honestly don't believe in coincidences in life," he said. "Things happen for a reason and I think this is the second message.
"Imola [where Ayrton Senna died in 1994] was a message and the cars were improved. Unfortunately, we lost a boy [Surtees], which is tremendously sad.
"It is not a coincidence something happened right now. In the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers' Association) we talked quite a lot about it yesterday - and something needs to be done. Absolutely.
"But I don't know what. We need to sit down and have a look at it. I think the cars are a hell of a lot safer, really a lot safer, but there is no coincidence on this and something needs to be looked at."
Lewis Hamilton described the crash as "very scary" and said it must be looked into, while Jenson Button said it proved there "is still more we need to do on safety".
Button and Barrichello's team boss Ross Brawn said the team were "naturally concerned" about Massa's condition.
"We had a problem with the back of the car and we are still investigating," he added.
"We haven't had the piece back from [motorsport governing body] the FIA yet so once we get it back we can understand what occurred.
"It's the first time we've really had a problem with the car as it's been so reliable."
McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh added: "What happened today was a shock.
"We've got to make sure we do everything we can to make F1 as safe as it can be.
"But a spring coming off and being in a collision four seconds later is an incredible circumstance and coincidence.
"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."
Related to this story:
David Coulthard column (25 Jul 09 | Formula 1 )
Alonso grabs shock Hungary pole (25 Jul 09 | Formula 1 )


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