Barrichello breaks down during Massa visit; says even while racing in the Hungarian Grand Prix he was thinking of his old mate's well being
Barrichello breaks down during Massa visit; says even while racing in the Hungarian Grand Prix he was thinking of his old mate's well being
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Lewis Hamilton enjoyed his first victory for nine months at the Hungaroring yesterday, but the Hungarian Grand Prix was overshadowed given Felipe Massa's condition in a nearby hospital following the freak accident in qualifying on Saturday 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.
Barrichello had tears in his eyes when he spoke about Massa after the race, 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 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 middle of the race."
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