Massa not comin back....for 2009

It appears that Massa's gonna have a metal plate inserted in his forehead. Hopefully he recovers fully but frankly I'd be surprised if he found his form in a F1 car after that.

 

In a statement released on their website, Ferrari said that with plastic surgery due to be undertaken in the next few days, the team were not betting on Massa being ready to race again in 2009.

"The checks (neurometric and impact tests, cognitive capacity tests) all had a positive outcome, just like the eye exam: everything is in order for Felipe to get back to racing," the statement said.

"Now there has just to be carried out some plastic surgery... which will take place in the upcoming days. After a short convalescence Felipe can then gradually start with physical preparations.

"Obviously, the results of the examination have been warmly welcomed in Maranello, in the sense that the team can count on Felipe 100 per cent for the start of next season."

 

One thing I have noticed is that in ANY news that comes out about Felipes injury, it is always mentioned how it's not serious, and how he is responding "better than anticipated" and how he is fully expected to make a complete recovery.

It seems obvious to me that this is an orchestrated effort to downplay the event and to prop up the idea that he's coming back soon. He's getting a frickin' metal plate put in his head... and he says "I will get a small operation this week...". Small?

There has clearly been a concerted effort to downplay the seriousness and the potentially career-ending impact of this, err, impact.

I wish him the best and hope he returns to F1, but if it wasn't career-ending or at least very potentially career-ending, they wouldn't be making such efforts to play the severity down. In short "they doth protest too much".

Gut feel says it's 50/50 at best on whether he ever sits in an F1 car again.

 

I hear you, but I disagree. His current surgery is cosmetic. He has two issues left:
- growing together of the bones to full strength
- getting the left eye muscle up to speed

Both will happen given some time.

There is nothing to gain from him coming back prematurely.

The real problem for Ferrari is not Massa, but what to do with Kimi: He has a valid 2010 contract yet the team wants Alonso in his seat.

 

Well said. Metal plate inserted in head is not my idea of "minor cosmetic surgery" either. I think that the awkward handling of this whole Massa incident and the resulting on-track debacle is yet another indication that the Ferrari team is basically lost and in dire need of new top management. I've always thought Domenicali was way over his head and now it seems that LdM (who I used to really respect) has lost it too. Domenicali only got where he is because of a rich and well-connected daddy. And although LdM is an Old World nobleman he has IMO a track record that will stand some late career blunders...kinda like T. Boone of Italy.

And while on the subject...if I was LdM, I'd call Domenicali to a private meeting and ask him to explain to me why my expensive, superstar driver only started to bring the team success AFTER the #2 driver had a season ending accident. In fact, I might put the same question to my equally expensive superstar consultant, Mr. Schumacher. I'm not big on conspiracy theories in general but the timing is just little TOO perfect...

 

Well the smartest thing they could do is to pay Kimi to take a sabbatical next year. The way Ferrari is operating right now it is almost given that if Kimi drove next year for a top team, his performance would make total mockery of Ferrari.

 

This stems from LdM. Did you notice when MS announced he could not come back now that LdM mentioned several times that Michael's bike accident was 'small' in his statements?

Yeah, so small his neck still bothers him 7 months later...

 

Yes, we have now recently found out how serious MS's injury really was and yet some are still downplaying it. Kinda sounds like another Ferrari driver who recently suffered a severe injury that is constantly being claimed as "no big deal". Coincidence???

 

+1

Would be pretty funny if he went to another team and won the WDC. Which would likely happen. Everyone would finally realize..."oh, Kimi's performance at Ferrari wasn't his fault after all".

 

I guess we'll really know how Massa is when F announce their team line up for next year. I'd be curious if they had him sit out for a year for recovery if he isn't 100%? Test driver again to replace Badoer? FA and Kimi would make a nice "dream team" while they still have him on the payroll. I don't think if Massa is back to form he's going to like playing second fiddle to Alonso. Sounds like F need to make some harsh decisions over the next while if they haven't already.

 

I find the current situation regarding Massa, and the manner in which it is being described to be somewhat disingenuous. Driving an F1 car is the land based equivalent of flying a fighter aircraft, something I used to do when I was a 'yout'. The reactions required, and the brain cognizance necessary are usually impaired beyond reproach with an accident such as described to Massa. I admire his determination to return to the cockpit, but I sadly have to wonder if it is realistic. I like him much more than KR, and would love to see him race again, but when you need titanium plates placed in your skull, in addition to possible brain impairment or at the very least a serious concussion, it seems that the chances of his abilities being totally restored are probably slim. In the Air Force, it would be extremely unlikely that you would fly high performance fighters again after such an accident. I have to believe that the same probably applies to F1. Still, I hope and pray for a full recovery, as I would love to see him win a WC.

 

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I hadn't figured it would look that nasty.

 

"he ain't pretty no more"

 

i still think kimi will be at ferrari next season, he has had a good 2nd half of season

 

Hmm. Maybe he should have plastic surgery for that.

 

AFAIK already happened.

When he flew to Miami to see the neuro surgeon, he had it tentatively scheduled. If the neuro surgeon had given him the green light for racing, he would have gone back and done the cosmetic surgery after the season is over. But since he got a no-go, he did it right thereafter also in Miami.

 

I did some research and reading on cosmetic "skull" surgery dealing with plates and new types of materials - the photos (not for the faint of heart by any means) of before and after (mostly children) were totally amazing. I suspect with all computer imaging, materials, etc. you will be hardly able to see that anything happened to Felipe.

Carol

 

I would have kept the scar if I were him.

 

I'd guess it's Anna he doesn't want to scare.