Formula 1 2009

[Rossiya]

It wasn't the crash that killed him - it was the tyre that hit him on the head that caused him to fall unconscious, and then he never recovered.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Aha. That makes a lot more sense. I thought he was in the car that clouted the tire barrier. Thanks.

 

[Rossiya]

He was in the car that hit the tyre wall.

 

[Formaldehyde]

No, he wasn't. He was in the second car that crashed. Watch the tire come off that car and hit him square in the head. He then drives off the track with the engine still turning the rear tires afterwards. He is unconscious.

That's what initially confused me. The first crash didn't look serious enough to kill anybody. I didn't realize what had actually happened until I watched the video again looking to see how his own tire could have hit him in the head.

And the later shot of them helping of the other driver out of his car is confusing as well because the shot is from behind him instead of from the same camera. That is the first driver who crashed, not the second as it appears.

Too bad I couldn't find an English version of the incident.

Youtube just stopped that video from being shown in the US due to copyright violations. Here's another which only shows his car:


Link to video.

And here is a shot of his livery:

Note the sidepods are yellow instead of dark blue.

 

[Darth_Pugwash]

Formaldehyde is correct, Henry Surtees was in the second car that crashed, the one with the yellow side pods.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Now the second video is banned in the US as well. Grrrr.

 

[Sofista]

Does this one work?

 

[Formaldehyde]

Sure does. At least for the time being. Thanks.

 

[Dell19]

Well qualification has been a bit confusing. Still not sure where Button is as a few sites list him as 10th which makes no sense as Massa didn't do a lap obviously.

 

[Rossiya]

Button is 8th. Alonso is 1st.

 

[Darth_Pugwash]

Scary accident that Massa had... he was lucky that the spring didn't hit his visor. Here's hoping for a quick recovery.

There are varying reports on his condition, but according to James Allen, who I am inclined to believe, the signs are positive:

http://twitter.com/jamesallenonf1

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2009/07/the-latest-from-the-track-on-massa/

 

[Rossiya]

Nasty accident. I hope he makes a speedy and full recovery.

 

[Dell19]

Oddly yesterday Eddie Jordan said that Alonso would be on pole and then today predicted Hamilton to win by a long way.

 

[Darth_Pugwash]

Mclaren win from Ferrari in shock result!

Bit of a dull race tho it was a great performance by Hamilton and McLaren. The TV feed didn't pick him up much but Nico Rosberg had another strong race.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Scary accident that Massa had... he was lucky that the spring didn't hit his visor.

Well, it did to some extent. But I agree it likely would have been much worse if it had been a bit lower down:

There are varying reports on his condition, but according to James Allen, who I am inclined to believe, the signs are positive:

http://twitter.com/jamesallenonf1

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2009/07/the-latest-from-the-track-on-massa/

Thats good new, but I do take exception with this statement:

The 28 year old was hit in the head by a spring which had fallen from the rear suspension of Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn car. He was on a lap heading back to the pits and was four seconds behind Barrichello on the road, when the spring became detached. It bounced down the road for four seconds and hit Massa in the head. He was briefly knocked unconscious and his feet went onto the brake and throttle simultaneously.

The data says that he applied 60bar of pressure to the brake, which is the equivalent of laying his foot on it gently, while the throttle was effectively jammed on.

The throttle was definitely not being depressed as he hit the barrier, and the front brakes were locked up before he hit. You can clearly see and hear this in the onboard video. There were also black skid marks immediately before he hit.

Now, after he did hit the barrier, the engine revved up again so that's likely when the data which he is referring was generated.

Here's the lastest news on Massa:

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Formula One driver Felipe Massa is awake and talking to family members, making significant improvement after his high-speed crash.

The chief surgeon at AEK hospital says Massa is now breathing unassisted and moving his limbs. In addition, a drain from his skull wound was removed.

Chief surgeon Lajos Zsiros said Monday the 28-year-old Brazilian is groggy but able to adequately answer questions. He says further improvement can be expected.

Massa crashed Saturday during qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix and was near death for two days.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The neurosurgeon who operated on Felipe Massa said Monday his condition was no longer considered life-threatening, although damage to his eye and other injuries could prevent him from returning to Formula One.

Robert Veres said Massa was in stable condition and remained sedated "to protect his brain," which had experienced some swelling. Massa has been woken up from time to time for tests, and his motor skills seemed to be functioning properly, Veres said.

However, he said Massa would definitely not return to the track this season, and that his long-term future in the sport was in doubt.

"I don't know (if he can return)," Veres said. "It's too early to say anything concerning his future, regarding the race."

Veres was one of three surgeons who operated on Massa's multiple skull fractures Saturday, following his high-speed crash during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Massa was struck by a loose part from another car that bounced up and hit him in the helmet, giving him a concussion and sending his car into the protective tire barrier.

Several fragments of bone from the skull had to be removed during the operation, Veres said.

Doctors were particularly concerned about injuries to the 28-year-old Brazilian's left eye, but Veres said they didn't yet "know the quality of this damage."

"We don't know exactly because without operation it's very hard to evaluate function," Veres told reporters from the AEK military hospital, where Ferrari president Luca di Montezemelo was also visiting Monday.

Veres said no more operations were planned at the moment, but couldn't rule out further surgery if his condition deteriorates.

"Anytime can be worse because of the complications, the nature of these injuries," he said. "He has a brain contusion. It's fine now. A focal contusion because of the impact of the metal piece."

Veres remained hopeful that Massa would walk again, as he was slowly recovering his motor skills and responding to doctors requests to move limbs. He remained on a respirator and would be sedated until his condition improved further.

Di Montezemelo said that Ferrari's first priority was Massa's health, but that the Italian team doesn't "want to wait too long" to decide on finding a driving replacement.

"Our first priority is Felipe's recovery, Felipe's progress and so on," said di Montezemelo, who was accompanied by team principal Stefano Domenicali, hospital director general Istvan Szilvasy and chief surgeon Lajos Zsiros. "Felipe's been an important member of the Ferrari family for many years, since he arrived as a kid. We all hope that he can come back soon."

Di Montezemelo said that Domenicali would remain with Massa and his family — which included pregnant wife Anna Rafaela — on Tuesday.

"Domenicali has to think and make good proposals for the future," Di Montezemelo said. "We don't want to wait too long for Felipe. First priority now is to find out about Felipe, only at that moment will we take a decision."

Massa will remain in Budapest for at least several days, although he could be moved within a week depending on his progress.

F1's governing body is investigating the crash, which comes amid a string of safety mishaps, including the death of an F2 driver last weekend after he was struck in the head by a loose tire from another car and crashed into a barrier.

No F1 driver has died on the track since Ayrton Senna's crash at Imola 15 years ago. The three-time champion died from head injuries after a violent crash.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Massa update / Schumacher may take his spot:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Wo...Intensive_Care:_Formula_1_Driver_Can_Now_Walk

His team said: "Felipe speaks, can sit upright and was even able to take his first steps.

"Today he will leave intensive care.

"From the clinical and radiological point of view everything is going extremely well.

Massa's condition has improved so rapidly that AEK medical director Peter Bazso claimed the 28-year-old might be able to walk out of hospital in 10 days' time.

But Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni played down those comments, saying: "I think that he improved a lot but we have to remain cautious. It is not useful to put forecasts on these things.

"I think, for the moment, we should just enjoy the positive improvements that Felipe is making."

Mr Colajanni also admitted it was "possible" seven-time champion Michael Schumacher could replace Massa on a short-term basis while the Brazilian continues his recovery.

 

[Dell19]

Does seem to make a lot of sense as he is very much the best temporary driver they can get. Hopefully Massa will fully recover however judging by the various reports it seems that it could take a long time for him to be able to race again.

There have been a lot of stories in the past about Alonso going to Ferrari in 2010 and that now seems more likely although Ferrari would get a lot of bad press if they replaced Massa even though he was basically ready to race again. If Alonso does move then I would expect Renault to follow BMW and leave the sport as they keep on being linked with an exit. I guess they would probably still provide engines.

Oh and Schumacher is 16/1 to win in Valencia.

 

[Darth_Pugwash]

Looking forward to seeing Schuey in a Ferrari F1 car again.

Potentially a good move, there will be no pressure to perform as he's already proven himself competitively and Ferrari are not fighting for either championship. If the he gets some respectable results, great, if not then it's no big deal.

 

[raketooy]

Oh yeah, I've missed him

 

[dutchfire]

It's the summer of the come backs of giants, isn't it? First Lance, now Schumi