Just a scar, invisible to everyone after a few minutes of familiarity.
read this earlier on f1 live - Carol * * * * Felipe Massa's personal doctor has played down suggestions the Brazilian may not be able to make a swift return to Formula One due to the risk of repeat injuries. "After his return he will be even stronger than before," Dino Altman told RTL. A comeback for this season has already been ruled out, but some reports have hinted the Ferrari driver might also be missing from the grid at the start of next season. "He is progressing very well, and soon he will begin to prepare physically for his return," said Altman. Earlier, he had been quoted as suggesting Massa was at "serious risk" if he tried to come back to his cockpit too soon. "Those comments didn't come from me," Altman insisted. He said the results of the intensive tests in Miami last week were all "normal" and that there is "no risk" posed by an eventual return to F1.
I've noticed that the UK sources tend to spin on the longer absence side. Think maybe the Hami fans are just a tad afraid of Felipe?
Yeah right. Once Alonso is in the other Ferrari, Massa will be back to his role during the Schumacher years. Not gonna happen given his record on track (just read another devastating interview with Berger) and his manager.
I agree. In fact if I were Luca I would ask for the head of the guy responsible for bringing KR to Ferrari in the first place without contracting a way of guaranteed motivation. Except from that point on LDM would not have a place to set his hat..
Let's see how soon he's back in a race car and driving in top form? That's the true test of his career future, talk aside. All the best to him.
If the result of the Alonso/Massa pairing looks like the Kimi/Massa paring after 3 years, then I'm quite happy: WDC: Kimi 1 Massa 0
Uh huh. Everyone remembers Felipe's tragic engine failure at Hungary 2008. But do you remember why Felipe was leading that race when his engine expired? Remember turn 1? -- When Felipe advanced from third to first, past the two napping McLarens. Image Unavailable, Please Login Remember Lewis trying to explain that one to the British tabloids?
Or turn 2 at Malaysia the year before when Lewis advanced from fourth past napping pole sitter Massa?
Interesting read as it's the first interview since the accident. While many on here and probably elsewhere had him down and out not to return again, he must be admired for his outlook on the accident and future racing. I fully understand his mother's position and respect her for that, silence can be a difficult thing for a parent. (I remember when our son was living at UC Davis and commuting to his job in Sunnyvale on a go fast red Ninja, only once did I comment about that asking him if he wore a helmet and if he didn't, please tell me he did. As a parent you respect your children and their desires.) from planet f1 Carol * * * * Felipe Massa has talked for the first time about the horrific accident that almost claimed his life. The Ferrari driver was left in a coma in July when a flying spring smashed into his head during practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Massa, talking to The Guardian, admits his injuries could have been much worse. "You need to think about luck in different ways. I was actually very unlucky with the spring in my face. But I was very lucky as well. Every doctor said the same. "If the spring had gone one millimetre to the right I would have lost my sight. One millimetre to the left and who knows? I could have been brain damaged. So I was very lucky. And this is more important because it is my life." Massa says what happened at the Hungaroring hasn't dimmed his passion for the sport or prompted any doubts about wanting to race again. He said: "For me, the worst thing that happened was not being able to race. If you can't drive that's terrible. "But 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.' If I don't drive then I am not the same person. "Ever since I was a small boy this is my life. This is what I like to do. So I really hope, and expect, nothing will change inside of me when I go back into the car and start pushing myself to the maximum again." The images of Massa's accident disturbed many but it seems they didn't have a massive impact on the driver himself "I first saw it when I got home on television - just like you. But I had other accidents that disturbed me a lot more. "When I lost the brakes in Monaco in 2002 it was a huge crash. And I crashed twice in Barcelona because I had a problem with my suspension - and that was an accident that made me think. "But this accident in Hungary is like something I never even saw. So my wife was only asking gentle questions, like, 'You don't think maybe ... ?' And I say, 'No, I am racing again.' "My mother also knows me a lot. Sometimes she is looking at me and thinking but she knows not to ask."
f1 live.... Felipe Massa is currently in Sao Paulo's Albert Einstein hospital, following more than four hours of skull surgery on Monday. The operation was to repair damage to his skull by the addition of a titanium plate at the spot the Brazilian was struck by a flying suspension spring during qualifying in Budapest in late July. Ferrari said the surgery "had a positive outcome" and that Massa will return home to begin his physical preparations for next season after a short hospital stay. In an interview published on Tuesday by Britain's Guardian newspaper, the 28-year-old said the surgery is to "close a bone in my head that they had taken away because it was completely damaged. "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," Massa explained. "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'm 100%. Massa confirmed that, contrary to his earlier target, he will now no longer be able to make his comeback at his home grand prix in Brazil next month. He said he has been following recent races live from his Sao Paulo home but that "it will be much worse when I have to watch the race in Brazil". "It will be difficult to watch it," Massa concedes, "but I will be there."
Don't think this is a repost - no new news, but a TV interview: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8243236.stm
The full interview with Massa can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/08/felipe-massa-interview I really like his attitude!
No, I think you mean the Massa supporters remember....I think "everyone" remembers Massa taking the first two races to learn how to drive without the drivers aids. Yes, that pass by Massa is easy to remember, just like all his passes...because there are so few of them. That pass really shouldn't be thought of as anything special...he was in arguably the fastest car on the grid. IMO however, the reason it is remembered though is not due to the brilliance but because of who was lucky enough to make it.
