F1 stars thinking of Massa
Felipe Massa was tonight "in the thoughts and prayers" of all the F1 drivers following the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton enjoyed his first victory for nine months but the race was overshadowed given Massa's condition in a nearby hospital following the freak accident in qualifying yesterday that left him with a fractured skull.
Massa, who also sustained concussion, was struck on his helmet by a spring that had worked loose off Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP before he then straight-lined into a tyre barrier.
The 28-year-old is currently in a stable condition in Budapest's AEK military hospital after undergoing emergency surgery but is to remain in a medically-induced coma for the next 48 hours.
Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali departed the Hungaroring track immediately after the race to be with Massa, along with team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, Barrichello and Brawn GP team principal Ross Brawn.
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is due to fly into Budapest tomorrow to see Massa, who already has pregnant wife Raffella, mother and father Ana Elena and Luiz Antonio, and brother Eduardo by his side.
Although Hamilton was naturally jubilant with his win, he made sure Massa was not too far from his thoughts following the race.
"Maybe I can speak for all the drivers, but yesterday was quite a sad day, and we missed Felipe today," remarked Hamilton.
"For me, I've had a great relationship with Felipe for quite a few years now, and some great battles with him.
"I'm just glad the surgery went well and we're just going to keep him in our thoughts and prayers, and we wish him a speedy recovery.
"He's got a child coming, so he needs to get back into top shape so, when he's finally a dad, he can do the job well."
Barrichello today had tears in his eyes when he spoke about Massa, notably as he was not allowed to see him last night when he visited the hospital as only immediate family were given access.
"If I can be of any help then I will stay," said Barrichello today before he left for the hospital.
"Last night they didn't let me see him, but I would love to see him because he is a friend, not just because the spring came from my car.
"It is for the fact that I know he would have done the same for me.
"But at the same time I have to think of my kids, of my family, and to be there for them, so it is a bit of an emotional moment.
"It is burning a little bit in my stomach, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't thinking of him in the the middle of the race."
Raikkonen, who scored Ferrari's best result of the season with second, is convinced Massa will make a full recovery.
"It's a sad thing that's happened from a very unlucky situation," said the Finn.
"But as long as we race with open cockpits our heads are always the first place that's going to be hit if something is flying around. It is part of racing and we all know that.
"What happened was really unfortunate, but luckily enough he's more or less okay.
"He's probably going to be 100% fine in a little time. We in the team all hope he's going to be fine and come back soon."
Mark Webber, who finished third for Red Bull Racing to maintain his title challenge, also labelled the accident "incredibly freakish".
"Of course, we're relieved he's okay," added the Australian.
"The surgery went okay and I'm sure he will be a million bucks in a few months, so that's the main thing.
"He has good people around him, and the FIA did a good job at the scene.
"Of course, we don't want to get too carried away with it, but he will be fine and we're fully behind him.
"We missed him on the grid today, but the show goes on."
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