Felipe Massa

Rubens Barrichello, also Brazilian like Felipe, was his best friend. It was Rubens' car that launched the spring that struck Massa's helmet.

28 years old at the time of the accident

Felipe Massa competes in Formula 1 for the Ferrari team under the number 3 car, teamed with Kimi Raikkonen. On Saturday, July 25, 2009, during the second qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring, Felipe was involved in a serious accident. An 800-gram steel rear suspension spring flew off Rubens Barrichello's number 23 Brawn GP car on the track. Felipe was following at approximately 260 kilometers per hour (160 mph) approaching the high-speed Turn 4. The heavy spring bounced off the asphalt and, at high speed, penetrated Massa's helmet visor just above his left eye, causing a powerful impact to his left eyebrow. Felipe instantly lost consciousness at the wheel. His fainting spell caused a rare technical issue: his right foot remained on the accelerator, while his left foot reflexively pressed the brake pedal all the way down. The car, racing down a straight line with the accelerator fully depressed and the brakes applied, slid onto the gravel, and crashed head-on into the tire barrier at 180 kilometers per hour. Rescuers extracted Felipe from the shattered cockpit and were urgently evacuated by medical helicopter to the AEK Military Hospital in Budapest. Massa was diagnosed with a concussion, a fractured skull, and a severe hematoma, causing his left eye to swell shut. At the hospital, he underwent emergency skull surgery and was placed in a medically induced coma. In that famous, grisly photo from the stretcher, Felipe is in shock, his head damaged, and his right remaining eye unnaturally wide open. Felipe is a very emotional, sincere, polite and dedicated person to his team, who speaks with a slight Brazilian accent and never gives up.

Sauber - Jacques Villeneuve (2005), Nick Heidfeld (2002), Giancarlo Fisichella (2004)
Ferrari - Kimi Raikkonen (2007-2009, at the time of the accident), Fernando Alonso (2010-2013), Michael Schumacher (2006)
Williams - Valtteri Bottas (2014-2016), Lance Stroll (2017)

Felipe Massa is a professional Brazilian Formula 1 racing driver. He is incredibly dedicated and passionate, yet reserved and polite. He has a strong character, having survived a serious accident in 2009 but returned to racing. He is friendly and sincere in communication. He is proud of his career at Ferrari and his friendship with Michael Schumacher. He never gives up, even when the odds are against him. He speaks with a slight Brazilian accent.