Saturday, July 25, 2009
Felipe Massa in intensive care
Hungary Grand Prix Formula 1 Ferrari pilot Felipe Massa ranking tour accident.
Felipe Massa is still in a stable condition in a Budapest hospital, having come through the night with no further problems after his accident and surgery yesterday.
The Ferrari driver had to be airlifted to the AEK Hospital in Budapest having sustained head injuries in a fresk crash near the end of Q2.
Massa's helmet was struck by a suspension component that had become detached from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car, with the Brazilian appearing to be knocked unconscious by the blow.
His car then speared off the road and had a heavy frontal impact with the tyre barriers at turn four.
He underwent surgery to attend to skull damage and brain concussion yesterday afternoon, and was then placed in an induced coma, as is standard procedure in such circumstances.
Ferrari was pleased to announce that there were no additional issues during the night and that his condition this morning was unchanged.
"After undergoing an operation yesterday afternoon, Felipe Massa's condition remains stable and there were no further complications through the night," said a team statement.
"He will be given another CT scan today, which will provide more precise information."
The scan should reveal more details about the extent of Massa's injuries, and the likely course of his recovery.
Sources in Hungary estimate that he could be sidelined for at least two months, and perhaps the rest of the 2009 season.