Felipe Massa has undergone emergency surgery following his high-speed crash during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. In a short statement Ferrari confirmed that the “outcome of the procedure was positive”.
The Brazilian was hit on the head by debris going down the short straight at Budapest which caused him to lose consciousness. He then slammed into the tyre walls at Turn 4.
Brake marks on the tarmac suggested he had some control over his car, but the undeviating nature of the marks, allied to the high-speed characteristics of that part of the track, triggered concerns about his wellbeing and indicated that he was pitched directly into the tyre wall at high speed.
Massa was taken to the circuit medical centre before being flown to the AEK hospital in Budapest. An FIA spokeswoman confirmed that Massa was in a stable condition and Ferrari issued a parallel statement saying that he was “conscious at the arrival at the hospital and his general conditions remain stable.”
“Following a complete medical examination it emerged that he had suffered a cut on his forehead, a bone damage of his skull and a brain concussion. These conditions need to be operated on after which he will remain under observation in intensive care.”
Ferrari will release further information tonight.
