HUNGARY: MOTOR RACING - Injured Formula One driver Felipe Massa says he hopes to be driving his Ferrari again soon

Record ID: 783220

  • Title: HUNGARY: MOTOR RACING - Injured Formula One driver Felipe Massa says he hopes to be driving his Ferrari again soon
  • Date: 4th August 2009
  • Summary: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (AUGUST 1, 2009) (REUTERS) SCHUMACHER DRIVING AWAY
  • Embargoed: 19th August 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Hungary
  • Country: Hungary
  • Topics: Health,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAAH1TGDNP5SF6YPJC9RKB4VGK3
  • Story Text: Injured Formula One driver Felipe Massa spoke publicly on Monday (August 3) for the first time about his near-fatal accident during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 25 -- saying he hopes to be back in his Ferrari very soon.
    During the second qualification session (Q2) on the Saturday, a spring came off fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car, striking Massa on his helmet visor, which broke over his left eye.
    Massa was flown to hospital with what were described as life-threatening injuries, but is making a good recovery and spoke on Monday before returning home to Brazil to continue his convalescence.
    "Well I don't remember anything, to be honest. I just remember once, when I spoke to Rob Smedley, my engineer, he told me 'do you remember Rubens? Q2?' I said 'no, I don't remember my Q2'. I said while I remember maybe in Q2 that I was behind Rubens, but then suddenly I don't remember anything any more so -- and everything happens there. So everything happens with me was, you know, something happened before, that I was not there. Maybe I was there, but I was not doing anything, you know. So it was very strange feeling and that is, that's my dream now."
    Asked how he felt about the accident and the future, Massa said: "Well for me is very strange, because many things change from Saturday till now, many things change and for me was very strange because, you know, is difficult to explain what's happened. I know everything, you know, now what's happened. Everybody knows, everybody saw. For me it's a little bit more difficult to explain. But is a very strange explanation, you know. So -- but anyway, I think now I'm very happy. I'm very -- in a good position to improve myself, to go back to the car, to drive and we see how long this will going to take. But I hope will be very quick."
    Massa will be replaced at the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23 by seven-times former champion Michael Schumacher, who is coming out of retirement to race again for his Ferrari team.
    Massa was asked if he had any advice for Schumacher and laughed, before replying: "Well I mean, I think you know, first of all, I raced with Michael. Michael, he gave me a lot of good advice in my professional drive, you know. So, to be honest, Michael knows everything he needs to do and I am sure Michael will do a very, very good job with my car. So I'm not in a position to say something to him. For sure, maybe if I go into the track and I see he is driving a little bit wrong or whatever, I will say straight away. But Michael knows what he has to do to."
    Massa's doctors in Hungary declined to predict when he could get back to racing, but dismissed speculation that he had suffered an eye injury which could slow his return.
    They said he was doing very well.
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