MARANELLO, Italy — The curious got a firsthand look at injured Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa on Monday, courtesy of a video issued by Ferrari. The videotaped interview, filmed in Italian, English and Portuguese, shows a healthy-looking Massa talking to an interviewer, his left eye still swollen and wearing a baseball cap that obscures the gruesome injury and stitches on his left temple.
"I know exactly what happened, that a spring came off Rubens' car and hit me on the helmet," he said, referring to the horrific accident during the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying event that landed him in a military hospital in Budapest. "I know that something happened to me, but I didn't feel anything when it happened."
Massa was injured when a 2-pound spring came loose from Brawn driver Rubens Barrichello's car and slammed into his helmet. He later underwent emergency surgery for skull fractures.
"They told me that I lost consciousness at the moment of the spring's impact on my helmet and I ran into barriers, then I woke up in hospital two days later," Massa said in the video.
He added: "The last thing I remembered was when I was behind him at the end of my fast lap in Q2 and then it's blank. It's difficult to explain. I'm feeling much better now and I want to recover as soon as possible to get back behind the wheel of a Ferrari."
Massa left Budapest on Monday to go to São Paulo, Brazil, where he is expected to begin rehabilitation.
The Ferrari interviewer asked Massa if he had any advice for Michael Schumacher, the legendary F1 driver, who will replace him for what will likely be the remainder of the season.
"Michael doesn't need my advice," Massa said. "It was him who gave me many tips during my career when we were racing together. He knows how to win, he knows how to drive and he's great; it was the best choice handing over the car to such a fantastic person and I'm sure that everybody will be happy to see him back on the track again.
"Although I hope I'll be back on the track with Ferrari as soon as possible."
Inside Line says: A reassuring video that will definitely help to underscore Massa's fighting spirit. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »