Felipe Massa believes his life-threatening accident in July will not affect his ability and desire to race. The Ferrari star's skull was fractured when it was hit by a spring from Rubens Barrichello's car during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Massa told the Guardian: "If I don't drive then I am not the same person. "I really hope, and expect, nothing will change inside of me when I go back into the car and start pushing to the maximum again." The accident happened after a spring that fell from fellow Brazilian Barrichello's Brawn GP car hit Massa's helmet while he was travelling at more than 160mph. Pressure on the brakes reduced Massa's speed to about 60mph when he hit the tyre wall but his injuries were described as "life-threatening" and there were fears for his sight. Yet the 28-year-old has revealed that the hardest part of his recovery has been his absence from the track and he insisted he has no fears about returning to the sport that almost cost him his life. "The worst thing that happened was not being able to race. If you can't drive that's terrible," he added. "My wife has already asked me, at least 10 times, 'Are you sure you don't feel any doubts or worries?' Always, I say, 'No, because this is what I like to do.' Ever since I was a small boy this is my life. This is what I like to do." Massa had wanted to return to action for the Brazilian Grand Prix, this season's penultimate race on 18 October, but has now conceded that will not happen as his doctors have advised against it. "It was the race I wanted to come back in," he said. "But it is difficult to say if it would have been possible." Before a return to Formula 1 is possible for Massa, he will need an operation to implant a titanium-infused plate in his head. "A normal guy can live like this without any problem but for a driver, if you have an accident and you have this problem, the recovery is more difficult," he revealed. "That's why I need this surgery to close the bone. I will have it soon because that's the only reason they won't allow me to race now. "Otherwise I feel the same as before. I'm going to Europe to use the simulator and drive some go-karts and then I will know very well if I am 100%." Ferrari have predicted Massa will make his comeback in the first race of the 2010 season, which is scheduled to take place in Bahrain on 14 March. The team have said they are looking forward to "being able to count on Felipe 100% for the start of the next racing season". As for the rest of this season, Massa will watch the drama unfold with interest - and he feels the title is a long way from being decided. Brawn's Jenson Button tops the standings on 72 points, 16 ahead of his team-mate Barrichello. However, the Englishman has struggled to replicate the early-season form that gave him six wins in the first seven grands prix of the season, taking only 11 points in the last five races. Massa said: "In my opinion, Jenson has gone down because of the pressure. It is the only reason. "Rubens has five races to close 16 points. It's a big possibility but it depends on Jenson. If Jenson carries on in this way it will help Rubens a lot. "If Jenson does not cope with the pressure he will not win the championship." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8243236.stm
"thou doth protest too much". It strikes me that the doctor first supposedly came out and said the injury was serious and they would know more about his ongoing ability to race, after they treated him. Now the doctor is saying it's no big deal, and so is Massa. The funniest comment I read was when the doctor said he would come back and be better and stronger than before. How can a doctor possibly say that? At best, he could be equal to before... at best. When they over-play the theme that he'll be OK, they actually lose credibility, IMO. It's obvious that there have been instructions given - likely by Massas manager - to everyone involved to play up the "no big deal, didn't even hurt him!" angle. Thou doth protest too much.
What is he going to say? "I'm scared ****less that I will get hurt again and will drive accordingly" Seems like non-story, but it will be good to have him back.
From the moment he was removed from the wreck they've been down-playing the seriousness of his injury, which makes little sense to me. He's not going to return based on the ability to spin the seriousness of his injury. Shortly after the announcers told us Felipe appeared OK after being removed from the wreck we saw the air ambulance taking him away. Since then, he's always been in more serious condition than every report has wanted us to believe. Why? I knew he wouldn't return this season, why string people along? That said, I hope this doesn't affect his confidence, and I don't think it will.
I may be a cruel person but this is the funniest thing I've read in ages. I just cannot stop laughing. Lets hope Massa fully recovers, though.
Even though he was with Red Sox, I have all his cards. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Conigliaro_Award Looking forward to seeing Massa in Bahrain, 2010.
Glad to hear he has the right attitude about it, however it still annoys the hell out of me to hear that drivers are having to use go-karts to practice. Granted they're top of the line go-karts, but having to use these things that little kids race on to prepare to hop into a multi-million dollar carbon fiber engineering masterpiece is absurd, thanks max. /rant Forza Felipe!
I think I may be even more cruel for having laughed at this.... http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1026/1248564257495.jpg I hope this is not found to be done in poor taste, but making light of a situation that could have been far worse!
Given all the questions (worldwide) that Massa is now being exposed to---------IE, how is he physically? - - how is he mentally? - - I believe that with every passing day he is becoming more focused, more energized, more hungry and, most importantly, even more committed to being the best on any given day in his future on this planet. I just have this feeling that we are in store for the witnessing of Massa's racing greatness. As a human being, it seems he's already proven himself. Cheers, Hank
Kimi, Massa, Alonso, Fisi, Gene, Vettle in the background, and BAD, OK... skip BAD They are trying to corner the market. If you cant beat em, buy em.
