Ferrari legend discusses impact of 'near-fatal' crash

Former Ferrari star and F1 winner Felipe Massa has discussed the impact of a horrifying crash at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix.

During qualifying in Budapest a spring broke loose from the car of Rubens Barrichello and hit Massa's helmet at over 250 km/h.

READ MORE: Sainz OFFICIALLY ends contract saga with two-year deal

Massa immediately lost consciousness and was promptly flown to hospital, where he was treated for nine days - two of which were in an induced coma.

The Ferrari star would miss the remainder of the 2009 season as he underwent plastic surgery to restore the area of his skull that had been hit by the spring.

Felipe Massa reveals the impact of his 2009 Hungarian GP crash

"Nobody ever told me I wasn't the same,” Massa said to Motorsport.com. “Of course I was criticised a lot in the press, because after my accident I didn't win another race in F1. But I came close several times.

"Unfortunately, I was denied victory in Germany, in the race that took place exactly one year after my accident, on 25 July 2010 [when his team ordered him to hand Fernando Alonso a victory].

“It was one of the saddest days of my life. After that, I lived a different period, because I no longer had a competitive car to fight for victories as before."

READ MORE: 'Extraordinary' meeting set up as FIA announce points change decision

2008 TITLE FIGHT (HALFWAY STAGE)
Raikkonen - 48pts
Hamilton - 48pts
Massa - 48pts

Championship battles have been CLOSE down the years ?#F1 https://t.co/pivCs7HZwQ

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 21, 2021

"I don't feel like anything has changed, in the sense of how I was before and how I am today," Massa added.

“What I can say is that today I respect life much more, both mine and that of others.

“Because you never think that anything will happen, but when it does, you value life much more.

“I value mine one hundred percent, and I am grateful for it every day."

READ MORE: Verstappen admits CHEATING when teasing Red Bull team-mate

Related

More F1 news

Full News Feed

NASCAR Results Today: Wrecks and cautions dominate first stage at Charlotte after Kyle Busch tribute

• 1 hour ago

F1 Results Today: Lewis Hamilton takes best Ferrari result as Mercedes fight ends in disaster

• 3 hours ago

F1 Canadian Grand Prix weather threat looms large as FIA declares rain hazard

• Yesterday 17:55

F1 fans can watch Canadian Grand Prix LIVE on Netflix in the US today

• Yesterday 17:15

Yet another F1 car damaged after hitting a groundhog at Canadian Grand Prix

• Yesterday 16:18

F1 Qualifying Results: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli complete extraordinary feat at Canadian Grand Prix

• May 23, 2026 22:18