Massa no longer in danger but eye damage from crash could affect F1 future

Massa no longer in danger, but eye damage worrying

BUDAPEST, Hungary — A doctor says Felipe Massa’s life is no longer in danger, but that the Ferrari driver sustained an eye injury in his crash which could affect his future in Formula One.

Robert Veres, the doctor who performed surgery on Massa after his crash, said Monday that Massa was stable and remained sedated “to protect his brain.”

Veres said Massa had suffered damage to his left eye but didn’t “know the quality of this damage.”

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemelo said that Ferrari’s first priority was Massa’s health but that the Italian team doesn’t “want to wait too long” to decide on finding a driving replacement.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Felipe Massa’s health was improving Monday after the Formula One driver communicated passively with doctors, and medical scans provided encouraging signs after surgery on multiple skull fractures.

Department of defense ministry spokesman Istvan Bocskai told the Associated Press that Massa was not speaking but that the 28-year-old Brazilian reacted when spoken to and was moving his hands and feet.

Massa was in life-threatening but stable condition following surgery on multiple skull injuries sustained during a violent crash in his Ferrari Saturday at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Bocskai said that military hospital doctors were reassured after no complications were uncovered by a CT scan. An ultrasound performed Sunday night to check on internal injuries revealed “nothing that would give cause for concern.”

The sedated Massa was also being woken up more frequently.

“These are definitely positive signs,” Bocskai said.

Massa received a concussion after a loose car part hit his helmet during a qualifying run on Saturday.

He then slammed into a protective tire barrier at about 120 mph causing multiple skull injuries that were operated on around one hour after being taken from the Hungaroring circuit.

Although Massa was in stable condition in the intensive care unit at AEK hospital following surgery, doctors called Massa’s condition as life-threatening due to the severity of the injuries.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo was scheduled to join the 11-time Grand Prix winner’s family — which includes pregnant wife Anna Rafaela — on Monday.

F1’s governing body is investigating the crash, which came amid a string of safety mishaps.

A Formula 2 driver was killed six days earlier after being struck in the head by a loose tire from another car and crashing into a barrier.

Motorsport authorities also suspended Renault from the next round of the championship for jeopardizing Fernando Alonso’s safety when it failed to inform the two-time world champion of a nut wheel problem at Budapest. Alonso’s wheel subsequently came off and bounced wildly down the track.

No F1 driver has died on the track since Ayrton Senna 15 years ago. The three-time champion died from head injuries after a violent crash in Italy.

AP Auto Racing Writer Paul Logothetis contributed to this report.