Doctors: Eye injury 'threatens Massa's F1 career'
Felipe Massa's future F1 prospects could be under threat
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By inthenews. |  |
Monday, 27, Jul 2009 04:04
An eye injury sustained by Felipe Massa in a high-speed crash at the Hungarian grand prix could threaten the Brazilian's future career in formula one, according to the latest reports.
The most recent statement from doctors treating Massa at Budapest's AEK hospital suggests they are concerned about damage to the driver's eye, despite confirming he is "no longer in danger" of brain damage after his condition improved overnight.
Massa was forced to have emergency surgery on his skull after being struck by a large suspension spring during Saturday's qualifying session, which caused him to crash his Ferrari into a trackside barrier.
And Robert Veres, the doctor who performed the surgery, said on Monday that Massa is now stable and remains sedated in order "to protect his brain".
But the injury to Massa's left eye remains a concern and Veres "does not yet know the amount of damage", according to reports from the Associated Press news agency.
Earlier, Rubens Barrichello had been to visit his countryman in hospital.
The spring that hit Massa's helmet had come off Barrichello's Brawn GP car and after visiting Massa the Brazilian said he was showing signs of making a full recovery.
"I didn't see Felipe but I spoke to the doctor, who is from Brazil," Barrichello said.
"He said [Felipe] reacted quite well when he saw the doctor and then his father shortly afterwards and his improvement since yesterday has been quite good.
"Most probably he's going to be 100 per cent fine so I am thankful for that and know I can leave [Hungary] in peace."
A statement released by the hospital on Sunday evening said scans on Massa's brain, which remains in a medically induced coma, are "very encouraging" and the driver is expected to come through the ordeal without any form of permanent damage.
Alistair Potter