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 ****pits 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.

F1 stars thinking of Massa | espnstar.com

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali dedicated Kimi Raikkonen's second place in Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix to Felipe Massa.

Raikkonen secured the team's best result of the season by finishing runner-up to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton at the Hungaroring, offering a ray of light on a dark weekend for the team.

Massa remains in a stable condition in the AEK military hospital in Budapest after undergoing emergency surgery on Saturday to repair a fractured skull in the wake of his freak accident in qualifying.

The 28-year-old underwent a CT scan on Sunday that was described as "reassuring" by Peter Baszo, the doctor tending to Massa, although he is still in a medically-induced coma.

Domenicali, who immediately after the race left the track to see Massa, said: "We dedicate the result to Felipe.

"At this time all our thoughts are with him and his family, and I think this sentiment also applies to those who are close to him and to fans all over the world.

"Kimi drove a great race, and the team worked in impeccable fashion, concentrating on the job despite what happened.

"We got the best result we were capable of, but please allow me on behalf of everyone at Ferrari to send our best wishes to Felipe.

"We love you and we are all thinking of you."

That message had been earlier underlined by the team's mechanics who displayed a pit board in the garage with the words 'forza Felipe siamo con te' - 'strength Felipe we are with you.'

Race-winner Hamilton also paid tribute to Massa, ensuring he spoke warmly despite the joy he also felt at his victory.

"Maybe I can speak for all the drivers, but Saturday was quite a sad day, and we missed Felipe," 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."

Rubens Barrichello had tears in his eyes when he spoke about Massa, notably as he was not allowed to see him on Saturday night when he visited the hospital as only immediate family were given access.

It was a spring from Barrichello's Brawn GP that struck Massa on the helmet at 162mph that caused the accident that culminated in the Brazilian straightlining into a tyre barrier.

"If I can be of any help then I will stay," said Barrichello before he left for the hospital in the hope of finally seeing Massa.

"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."

Ferrari dedicate podium result to Massa - Planet-F1 News - from planet-f1.com