Fillipe Massa

[Pete McCluskey.]

I thought it a good idea to have a sepatate thread on Fillipe's condition rather than haved mixed in with the other stuff on the F1 thread.

From planet F1.com.


Felipe Massa's Formula One career appears to be hanging in the balance following confirmation he has suffered some damage to his left eye.

Massa is currently in intensive care at the AEK military hospital in Budapest after suffering a skull fracture following a freak accident on Saturday during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Although the 28-year-old, still in a medically-induced coma, has shown signs of improvement after undergoing emergency surgery, it has now emerged Massa may have sustained eye problems.

If that is the case, and the Brazilian is unable to see properly in the future, it will mean his days in motor racing are over.

Professor Robert Veres said: "He has suffered some damage to the eye.

"We don't know if he'll be able to race again.

"I don't know (if he can return). It's too early to say about his future.

"We don't know the extent of the damage. Without an operation it's very hard to evaluate its function."

Veres also confirmed on Monday afternoon Massa remained sedated "to protect his brain", which has apparently experienced some swelling, but he is out of serious danger.

Meanwhile, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo visited Massa in hospital on Monday and insisted no decisions would be taken over the Italian marque's direction for the rest of the season until the driver's situation was clarified.

"Our first priority is Felipe's recovery, Felipe's progress and so on," he said.

"Felipe's been an important member of the Ferrari family for many years, since he arrived as a kid, so we all hope he can come back soon."

Di Montezemlo added: "(Team principal Stefano) Domenicali has to think and make good proposals for the future.

"We don't want to wait too long for Felipe, but our first priority now is to find out about Felipe, and only at that moment will we take a decision


And from F1.com.

Felipe Massa has been taken out of an artificially-induced coma as his recovery continues, doctors told reporters in Budapest on Monday evening. The injured Ferrari driver has also been able to speak with family and medical staff.

Massa suffered a fractured skull during Saturday’s qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, after being hit by a suspension spring from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn...

 

[domtoni]

Latest is Massa will be out for the rest of the season. Debate who will take his place with Schumacher saying he would consider the ride if it is offered to him.

 

[roaldin]

News on this seems confused. I have seen reports from doctors saying possible eye problem and other reports from doctors saying eye fine, vision fine. I hope it's the latter.
Things could obviously have been worse but it is sad when someone is forced into a situation where they can't do the things they love doing.

Tim.

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

Latest is Massa will be out for the rest of the season. Debate who will take his place with Schumacher saying he would consider the ride if it is offered to him.

naah Don, here nobody really thinks Schumy will be there again to drive a red.
The ugly shitty figure is nearly warranteed, he use to drive the best and most powerful ferrari ever seen when it WAS a winning car.
Today one is a shit..looses everything possible, including good pilots (with crysis we have finished teh Vodka for kimi, and he doesnt like barolo and chianti, finnish guy..u know...
He closed carrer as real german hero, so PERFECTLY and with the nicest race of his career, also if loosing in Brazil cause asshold Fisichella betwen cojiones damaging his rear tire...u know what I mean.

Surely Ferrari will try a new young pilot, there are several that tested the car with timings very very near to official drivers in fiorano.
No way to search a champion, this year we are completely out as mc laren.
maybe gene can do it...is even F tester.

My dream will be for another nut german there, sebastian vettel I like too much,but surely he is already a superstar and they will not left him, neither for ferrari (also cause surely he will win LESS than with his actual car)

 

[domtoni]

I saw just 30 minutes ago that Schumacher is considering the offer Ferrari made to drive the car. You are probably right Paolo. If Schumi takes the drive and doesn't do well, he won't be well remembered. The car isn't the best.

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

di pure che è una merda amico mio..

 

[Mike]

Trust me, you don't even need two eyes to race at the higher levels of motor racing. As incedible as that sounds, there was actually a guy that raced in the Trans Am series that had only one eye. Granted he wasn't at the front or anything, but he did it none the less. To say the least, I was shocked to hear that the powers that be even let the guy out on the track. It was amazing that he was even there. Now I'm not suggesting that Massa would be able to win a F1 championship with only one eye, but he should be able to keep doing what he loves, even if he only has one eye.

 

[Russ Noble]

Having lost an eye 20 years ago, I am probably qualified to comment....

Firstly the lack of an eye does not affect driving skills, car control or lap times. The biggest problem is the lack of peripheral vision on the blind side and the associated dangers of that in close wheel to wheel situations. Particularly in open wheel classes. You cannot see a car putting it's wheel up alongside you until it is too late to take avoiding action. With saloons or sports cars the wheel tangle thing is not so much of a problem

Secondly it would depend on how stringent the medical is for a F1 Super License. He would have to meet the requirements for peripheral vision which at lower levels of racing is just barely attainable with one eye. I have no idea whether the bar is higher for F1, if it is, that would effectively stop him retaining his license.

We have to hope it doesn't come to that for Fillipe and that he makes a full and speedy recovery.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

From Auto Sport.

<!-- Begin Main Box--><!-- title -->Massa could leave hospital in 10 days<!-- end title -->

<TABLE height=0% cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=news_article_author vAlign=top align=left width="50%"><!-- credit -->By Jonathan Noble<!-- end credit --></TD><TD class=news_article_date align=right width="50%">Tuesday, July 28th 2009, 10:36 GMT</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Felipe Massa's recovery is going so well that he could walk out of hospital by the end of next week, his doctor has said.
On the back of further encouraging signs about Massa's condition following the fractured skull he suffered in his qualifying accident for the Hungarian Grand Prix, doctors are now hopeful that he may be able to leave the AEK Hospital in Budapest soon.
Peter Bazso, the medical director of the hospital, told Hungarian TV channel M1 on Tuesday: "My expectation is that he would walk out of the hospital on his own. If his recovery continues at this pace, I wouldn't rule out that he could leave within 10 days."
Massa has been brought out of an induced coma and has now been taken off a respirator
"He's spending more and more time awake, talking to family and friends," Bazso said.
Massa's wife, parents, brother and manager Nicolas Todt have remained in hospital with him, and Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali is due to visit him on Tuesday.
However, while it remains uncertain about the extent of any eye injury that Massa may have suffered, Bazso has also said that Massa's condition must still be monitored closely.
"I would like to point out that although he's recovering, this is not the end of the story, he is still in a life-threatening condition," Bazso said. "Of course, the danger is decreasing by the day."
Massa's injuries were caused when he was struck on the helmet by a flying spring that had come off the back of Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car.

 

[roaldin]

Re' Massa's eye - pitpass - the latest, hottest F1, GP2, GP2 Asia & A1GP news

Tim

 

[Eric Johnson]

Thanks for the updates. I'm glad he's going to ok.

 

[Jack]

Appreciate the update, good news!

 

[Cliff Beer]

Having lost an eye 20 years ago, I am probably qualified to comment....

Firstly the lack of an eye does not affect driving skills, car control or lap times. The biggest problem is the lack of peripheral vision on the blind side and the associated dangers of that in close wheel to wheel situations. Particularly in open wheel classes. You cannot see a car putting it's wheel up alongside you until it is too late to take avoiding action. With saloons or sports cars the wheel tangle thing is not so much of a problem

Secondly it would depend on how stringent the medical is for a F1 Super License. He would have to meet the requirements for peripheral vision which at lower levels of racing is just barely attainable with one eye. I have no idea whether the bar is higher for F1, if it is, that would effectively stop him retaining his license.

We have to hope it doesn't come to that for Fillipe and that he makes a full and speedy recovery.

Russ, you're a better driver than I am then. When I couldn't use one eye for quite some time due to a medical condition (now cured) I could barely drive down the street at over 10mph without risking side swiping other cars and pedestrians. No damage so no foul but holy smokes it wasn't safe for anyone on the street in my case.

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

...kaiser schumacher is back.....

 

[John]

Russ seeing as youve come out of the closet i might as well also, as i too am a 1 eyed kiwi and proud of it, it did take some time as you well no to get adjusted to no peripheral vision but i have managed to crack up one NZ saloon car title and still have fun out on the track, it isnt the end of the world, but alas it may be the end for top level, we can only hope he fully recovers, they can do some incredible things these days so fingures crossed
cheers Kaspa

 

[RichardH]

Schumacher back

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

From CNN: contains quotes from Felipe's personal physician (not the Budapest treating physicians). Most importantly, IMO, is that the Dr. confirms Masa can properly gauge depth and distance with his left eye.

Meanwhile, Massa's own doctor, Dino Altmann, has told Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport that he believes the Brazilian's Formula One career is far from over.

Altmann said: "I have no doubt Felipe will race again. I'm sure of that. The situation is still delicate but I believe his life is not in danger anymore. From the beginning I felt the trauma wasn't as extended as it was believed but the improvements he has made have gone beyond our wildest expectations."

Altmann also believes fears surrounding Massa's left eye, seemingly damaged after he was struck on the helmet by a suspension spring that had worked free from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car, have eased.

"Stimulated by the physiotherapist, he showed he knows left from right and has full awareness of distance and depth," added Altmann. "His eye has been opened, with care because it is still swollen, and he has said he can see. His vision has not weakened.

"He also gave appropriate answers in three languages: Portuguese, Italian, and English. That means the brain's cognitive area is fine."

Ferrari team principal Domenicali told reporters that he has been amazed by the rate of recovery, prompting him to return to Italy.

 

[Luix]

di pure che è una merda amico mio..

Carajo, de verdad que esta maquina de Ferrari es una mierda, porqueria...

I had to come back to say that even if the car is crap that I'm happy to see M.S. back in Formula One.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

Massa to suffer no 'long-term' injury
08:12 AEST Thu Jul 30 2009


<TABLE id=table_img_caption><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Felipe Massa (pic) should not suffer any long-term effects from his recent crash, his doctor says.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>










Injured Brazilian Grand Prix driver Felipe Massa should not suffer any long-term effects from his crash and can now move around his bed, his private doctor Dino Altman said.
"He doesn't seem to have a long-term injury," Altman told journalists in front of Budapest's AEK hospital, where Massa was brought after his accident on Saturday.
"He stood up today and was walking around his bed," he added.
"Felipe's brain condition is improving and there is nothing to worry about."
Altman ruled out any eye injuries as well as a gall bladder inflammation that was reported by a hospital doctor earlier in the day.
He added that Massa would be moved out of the intensive care unit on Wednesday.
It was still unclear however when the Brazilian would be discharged from hospital, although "it might be in less than ten days."
"Leaving the hospital is not an issue now. We are waiting to see how he improves," Altman said, adding that whether he would be transported to Brazil or to France had similarly not been decided yet.
Altman said the driver remembered his two completed laps as well as the moments before the accident, and was asking who had won the race on Sunday.
Massa exclaimed "I can't believe it! It was my race," when he learned the winner had been Lewis Hamilton, the doctor said.
"He was hungry and was complaining about food," Altman added.
Massa suffered severe injuries when he was struck at around 275 kph by a spring that flew off compatriot Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday.
The 28-year-old driver underwent surgery for skull damage immediately.
For the last four days, he has been in intensive care unit, with his wife staying in an adjacent room.

 

[Neal]

Good news! I wonder how Shue is going to like running mid-pack? He can always boot his competition off the track... :clown: