FORUMula1.com

[Denthúl]

does this mean there will be no reserve driver?

Correct.

[stonemonkey]

Massa undergoes successful surgery

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde Saturday, July 25th 2009, 17:40 GMT

Felipe Massa has successfully undergone surgery for the injuries he suffered in his accident in qualifying in Hungary.

Ferrari said the driver will now remain under observation in the intensive care unit at the AEK hospital in Budapest, where the Brazilian was taken after being hit by a spring during Q2.

Massa had suffered a damaged skull and brain concussion, as well as a cut on his forehead.

The Italian team said a further update on his condition will be issued tomorrow morning.

Brawn confirmed the spring belonged to a damper from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car, weighing around 800 grams.

"We had a problem at the back, so we are still investigating and we haven't had the piece back from the FIA yet so once we get it back we can understand what occurred and then draw some conclusions," said team boss Ross Brawn.

"It is the first time we've had a problem with the car. The car has been really reliable and we are obviously looking all through the data to understand what caused the problem. It is hard to comment at the moment until we have studied everything.

"We put a new component on Jenson's car in qualifying just to be safe, but we are still studying everything that went on to understand what happened."

What if they can't explain what failed? can they risk having springs bouncing around the track in a race?

[EwanM]

s***

AP: Hospital officials say Ferrari's Felipe Massa is in "life-threatening" condition following surgery on skull fracture.

[ducksfan]

No!!! That wasnt even a big accident... this aint good. GET WELL SOON!!!

[Amanda]

s***

AP: Hospital officials say Ferrari's Felipe Massa is in "life-threatening" condition following surgery on skull fracture.

What?! Not long ago everything was 'positive'. I thought they weren't updating until the morning.

[Denthúl]

s***

AP: Hospital officials say Ferrari's Felipe Massa is in "life-threatening" condition following surgery on skull fracture.

I hope he's okay.

[Frosty]

s***

AP: Hospital officials say Ferrari's Felipe Massa is in "life-threatening" condition following surgery on skull fracture.

I hope he's okay.

This is the problem with head injuries the seriousness of them can never be truly known until several hours after... I hope he is ok.

[Hanwombat]

Oh god I hope he okay, Felipe is the only Ferrari driver I have liked

[stonemonkey]

s***

AP: Hospital officials say Ferrari's Felipe Massa is in "life-threatening" condition following surgery on skull fracture.

Crap, every time I read a little more it changes.

[Hanwombat]

Oh I hope hes okay

[Amanda]

s***

AP: Hospital officials say Ferrari's Felipe Massa is in "life-threatening" condition following surgery on skull fracture.

Crap, every time I read a little more it changes.

Everytime I read something it gets worse. Hopefully the next update will be more positive.

[Gaz]

jeez i thought he was out of the woods.

i really hope he pulls though.

[EwanM]

Sky news report it as "life threatening but stable".

BBC news are going with the same AP that I just posted.

[Hanwombat]

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Hospital officials say Formula One driver Felipe Massa is in "life-threatening" condition after surgery for a fractured skull from a high-speed crash at Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.

Officials at the AEK military hospital said Saturday that Massa will be kept sedated on a respirator in an intensive care unit.

Medical director Peter Bazso said at a news conference that "Massa's condition is serious, life-threatening but stable."

Bazso and chief surgeon Lajos Zsiros say they expect Massa to be awoken Sunday.

The 28-year-old Brazilian had surgery one hour after arriving at the hospital, the doctors said.

Massa was struck in the helmet by a loose part from another car and his car slammed straight into a tire barrier.

[EwanM]

My mum (nurse but no expert) claims that this may be simply a systematic measure and that the initial hours after surgery of that type can be like that.