Stefano Domenicali dedicated Kimi Raikkonen’s second place at the Hungarian Grand Prix to Felipe Massa after it emerged that the Brazilian will remain in a medically-induced coma for another 48 hours.
Earlier CT scans had proved positive, but as later explained by the AEK Hospital’s medical director, Peter Bazso, the process would be the best method to aid the Brazilian’s recovery.
“It brought the result that we had expected concerning an injury of this type.” Bazso told reporters.
It is believed that Massa continues to be in a stable condition with his family by his side.
The Hungarian Grand Prix reflected Ferrari’s pace, with Kimi Raikkonen taking a superb second place for the Scuderia.
However all thoughts must remain with Felipe Massa, who would surely have also taken advantage of Ferrari’s return to form and recorded a strong result in Hungary had it not been for his horrific accident in qualifying.
Kimi Raikkonen – 2nd: “Today’s result is very important for the team in such a difficult weekend because of what happened to Felipe yesterday. I am pleased with second place, even if it is not completely satisfying as I always race to win. On this type of track, we are certainly closer to the best than at other circuits and today, honestly we were actually even closer than we had expected to be. I got a good start, ending up fourth after the first few corners. We knew it would be crucial to make up places at the start to be in with a chance of fighting for the podium. After the first pit stop we began to have problems with the right hand exhaust and so, at the second stop, the team asked to leave using a different procedure to usual. It lost me a bit of time but I still had a reasonable advantage over Webber so I could manage the situation. Today, the car wasn’t bad, but it was not quick enough to go for the win.”
Stefano Domenicali: “We dedicate this result to Felipe: at this time, all our thoughts are with him and his family and I think this sentiment also applies to those who are close to him and to fans all over the world. Kimi drove a great race and the team worked in impeccable fashion, concentrating on the job despite what happened yesterday. We got the best result we were capable of. Please allow me on behalf of everyone at Ferrari to send our best wishes to Felipe. We love you and we are all thinking of you.”
Chris Dyer: “A super result on a difficult weekend for the whole team. Kimi drove a great race, starting with a really fantastic opening lap, followed by a very good second stint on the softer tyres. In between those phases, the team pulled off a great pit stop to put Kimi ahead of Webber. We were a bit worried about a problem with an exhaust and so we told the driver to be very careful at the second pit stop. We lost a bit of time and then in the final part, we had to deal with a fast closing Webber, who was very quick, but all the same, we managed to respond well enough to comfortably manage the situation to the finish.”
