This Thursday marks the fifteenth anniversary of the accident that significantly injured Felipe Massa in 2009. Throughout qualifying for that yr’s System 1 Hungarian Grand Prix, the Brazilian was hit at excessive pace by a spring that had indifferent from Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn. Along with the Brazilian’s accident, that race was additionally marked by a sequence of necessary occasions. Information and private milestones have been damaged in Budapest in 2009. Nevertheless, it was all overshadowed by Massa’s accident.
In an unique interview with Motorsport Brasil, Massa spoke in regards to the drama he skilled on the time and highlighted the components behind his return—and the difficulties of getting again behind the wheel of the Ferrari.
Picture by: Sutton Pictures
The backstory
The 2008 season had ended on a excessive for Massa—the Brazilian had received the final race of the yr, in Brazil, and for just a few temporary moments had the motive force’s title in his palms. Nevertheless, Timo Glock slipped within the rain within the final corners of Interlagos and was overtaken by Lewis Hamilton, who completed fifth and received (or, as Massa contends, was improperly given) the 2008 driver’s title by a single level.
In 2009, F1 underwent profound modifications and the highest groups fell behind the shocking Brawn GP and an rising Crimson Bull. Over the course of the yr, Ferrari and McLaren recovered. Simply because the Italian staff was about to shine once more, Massa suffered the accident in Budapest.
Throughout qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, a spring indifferent from Rubens Barrichello’s automobile and, after bouncing alongside the monitor, hit Massa’s helmet at over 250 km/h. Massa went into shock and misplaced consciousness immediately. The automobile went straight via a nook and crashed into the tire barrier.
Massa was taken by helicopter to Budapest’s navy hospital, the place he obtained therapy, the place he spent 9 days—two in an induced coma—and underwent two operations. After being discharged, he underwent additional cosmetic surgery to get well the realm of his cranium that had been hit by the spring. He would miss the remainder of the 2009 season (returning in 2010), and the accident would drive a security push that led to the adoption of the halo on present F1 automobiles.
Life goes on
In trying again on that day 15 years in the past, Massa tells Motorsport, “I am very grateful that it was my day, thank God.” The assertion might come as a shock.
“Lots of people say it was unfortunate, however I feel that, in case you have a look at what occurred…on the one hand, I used to be unfortunate, as a result of the spring ended up proper in my head. However I used to be additionally very fortunate, as a result of at the moment I am right here residing my life, in nice well being, and I am completely satisfied to have my household.”
Massa dismissed the topic as off-limits for him or his household. “The individuals closest to me—Rafaela [his wife], my dad and mom, brothers, and associates—suffered way more than I did. They noticed the accident and I did not see something that occurred. Rafaela was six months pregnant with Felipinho, so he did not see something both,” mentioned Massa. “However this isn’t a taboo topic within the household.”
“We thank God loads as a result of I am nonetheless right here, residing with them,” says Massa. “I am Catholic and I pray day by day, asking for well being for me and my household. Though I do not go to church fairly often, every time I move by I’m going in and light-weight a candle to provide thanks.”
The Ferrari F60 of Felipe Massa is returned to the pits
Picture by: Motorsport Pictures
Requested if, after the accident, anybody advised him that he was now not the identical as earlier than, Massa denies it—mentioning that essentially the most acid criticism got here from the press. He believes that his lack of victories in F1 is just not associated to the accident, however to the shortage of aggressive automobiles.
“No one ever advised me I wasn’t the identical. After all I used to be criticized loads within the press, as a result of after my accident I by no means received one other race in F1. However I got here shut a number of instances.
“Sadly I used to be denied victory in Germany, within the race that happened precisely one yr after my accident, on July 25, 2010. That was one of many saddest days of my life. After that, I skilled a unique interval, as a result of I now not had a aggressive automobile to compete for victories as I did earlier than.
“I do not really feel that something has modified, within the sense of how I used to be earlier than and the way I’m at the moment. What I can say is that at the moment I respect life way more—each my very own and different individuals’s. Since you by no means assume something goes to occur, however when it does, you worth life way more. I worth mine one-hundred %, and I am grateful for it day by day.”
“And I hope I nonetheless have loads of floor forward of me to proceed having fun with my life and driving, which is what I love to do,” says the Brazilian. “However with loads of safety and well being, which is a very powerful factor.”
