Massa survives big crash

Eurosport - Sat, 05 Jul 11:52:00 2008

World championship leader Felipe Massa survived a terrifying crash in the first free practice session for the British GP at Silverstone.

2008 British GP Felipe Massa Ferrari - 0

The Brazilian slammed into the barriers at the right-hand Stowe corner after spinning at 130mph on oil laid down by Renault driver Fernando Alonso.

The Ferrari man hit the tyre wall rear-first at the same corner where Michael Schumacher broke his leg in 1999, but emerged unscathed and immediately chatted with Alonso at the side of the track.

The red flags came out as marshals removed the wreckage and cleared oil from the track in an 18 minute stoppage.

Alonso had pulled up at the same corner only minutes previously, with a plume of smoke billowing from the engine of his Renault.

Massa, winner of three races so far this season, had earlier set the fastest time of the session, clocking 1:19.575 - well inside Lewis Hamilton's pole position time from last year.

However, he is likely to miss the afternoon session after sustaining extensive damage to the rear and right side of his car.

A large crowd turned out to see home favourite Hamilton, who went third fastest for McLaren, while David Coulthard embarked on his final British GP weekend after announcing his retirement at the end of the season.

Massa leads BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica by two points after eight races, with Ferrari's world champion Kimi Raikkonen in third place a further three behind.

Alex Chick + Reuters / Eurosport

Comment 12 - 31 of 31

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  1. Re: LH being mentioned all the time regardless of the story - it's because he's the current world champion and it always happens

    From littlee.69123, on Mon 25 May 8:14PM

  2. Honestly..HAMILTON is over rated...

    From virgilio, on Sat 5 Jul 2:06PM

  3. hope massa is okay,for me he is a fantastic F1 DRIVER...he will be a champ oneday,who knows,it could be this season?..

    From virgilio, on Sat 5 Jul 2:02PM

  4. It is Felipe not Filipe you dumbass...And Raikkonen is da best!!!

    From gautenurmse, on Sat 5 Jul 10:22AM

  5. Alonso is @#$%,Massa is the best of the rest..Go Massa Go.

    From heiki.kait, on Sat 5 Jul 8:08AM

  6. I hate to say it, but F1 could use a little Free Market Economy from the Dark Side of the pond!!! Futchi... you less than brilliant man... Go Filipe Go!

    From jedixiv, on Sat 5 Jul 4:30AM

  7. So, will this monocoque be rebuilt and ready for tomorrow's qual session? Will Phil feel confident if this will be his ride, or will they go to the back up chassis? Hoping Kubica the pole gets the pole tomorrow... a BMW fan

    From Bob K, on Sat 5 Jul 2:11AM

  8. Damocles,
    Think about what you are saying, You sound like the @#$%, Remember what your golden boy said last year and I quote "I will not be racing with the rest of the monkeys at the back of the grid" and this was his first season in F1, ARROGANT or what. He needs to grow up.

    From andy.meikle1@..., on Sat 5 Jul 12:26AM

  9. to punky chips... when was the last time YOU hit anything going 130 mph?? in fact, have you ever been in anything that goes 130 mph?? not a big deal?? ha!!
    to rod... ferrari fans are "scared" of hamilton?? i'd suggest to you the only fear visible these days is from mclaren, they never know when, where, why or how hamilton is going to stick his foot in his mouth...
    MUCH AS I AGREE THAT HAMILTON IS GETTING TOOOO MUCH AIR TIME, HERE'S MY TWO CENTS;
    to isabel... you don't have to support hamilton just because you're both british, you have the right to pick and choose who you support...
    to annette... good point, he's not patriotic, why do fans have to be??
    P.S. WHO THE HELL IS THIS KID, ANYWAY?? AND (AS KENNETH O STATES) IT'S OUR OWN FAULT FOR LETTING HIM BE PART OF IT ALL... I.G.N.O.R.E....

    From sagittarius1958, on Sat 5 Jul 12:18AM

  10. lewis hamilton was allways going to strugle this year why?? because he hadnt got fernando to set the car up for him.

    From jonwilliams38@..., on Fri 4 Jul 10:33PM

  11. I see the Scottish windbag David Coulthard is retiring after this season - He's never been a great driver and no where close to nigel mansell. I don't think he'll be missed too much.

    From MR E, on Fri 4 Jul 9:26PM

  12. agree with you jimmy weed fair play go ferrari!

    From , on Fri 4 Jul 8:45PM

  13. Isabel: the first mention of Hamilton was the comment by Jimmy "I've been smoking" Weed. I think we all understand that Ferrari fans are scared that Hamilton is too quick but that really has never been the basis for vitriolic personal attacks in years and decades gone by. F1 - and sport in general - is supposed to be about rooting for your team but congratulating the opponent when they do well and enjoying some good hearted banter. At least it was in the UK when I was growing up; I'd like to think it still is both in the UK and elsewhere.

    From Rod, on Fri 4 Jul 8:42PM

  14. Hope Massa is ok

    From agent6664, on Fri 4 Jul 5:53PM

  15. I agree with Annette, who agreed with Isabel, F1 is becoming a sport for girls, who are more obedient to their fathers ...

    From Gasper J, on Fri 4 Jul 5:28PM

  16. Ok, still not getting there! Why are we supposed to hate Hamilton? And why HATE? Can't you just support another driver without hating someone you have never met? Oh I bet you HATE Arsenal or Man U as well for some strange reason....I was always A Mansell fan and then Schumi - Oh no that's done it - that will be me with a death sentence.
    Oh how is this for a great idea - try commenting on the sport, not who your pet is!

    From volusia_800, on Fri 4 Jul 5:26PM

  17. Why despise Hamilton because people like him. He isn't the one that sponsors these messages, it is us; our words, our opinions. Hamilton on his own might not go to the length that some of us, his fans, do. Just remember he can't censor what we say. As to his going off to Switzerland, why everyone does that these days, why in LH's case is that a problem?

    From Kenneth O, on Fri 4 Jul 5:25PM

  18. I agree with Isabel. Just because you are English should you be expected to support an English driver? Well if that is the case Hamilton should practise what he preaches and support his country. It was good enough for him as he was rising through the karting and racing ranks then he hits the big time and he immediately swans off to Switzerland to avoid the British taxman and the press, (cos they ain't playing nice and saying nasty things boo hoo hoo!)If his intelligence was as huge as his ego he would go very far indeed.
    Oh and PS I'm NOT a fan of the red team either I'd just rather see anyone BUT LH win :)

    From Annette S, on Fri 4 Jul 5:12PM

  19. Once again everything is steered towards Hamilton. Personally I am very disappointed in him this year. After the press report about his father turning down the offer
    of a Charity Challenge with Jensen, I am more than convinced that what Daddy says Lewis does. Its a case of "Daddy said No".

    Will miss DC very much when he leaves. When it comes to British Drivers I am definately turning my preference to Jensen rather than Lewis.

    Amanda.

    From prinsloo1954, on Fri 4 Jul 5:11PM

  20. i totally agree with punkychips. i mean, what is the deal with everyone mentioning Hamilton when it has nothing to do with him??...so annoying!!

    also i am now officially a fan of Futchi and Jimmy Weed. why does everyone seem to love Hamilton? just because hes English and so am i, i'm expected to support him. i am absolutely baffled by it, i really am. theres nothing genius or brilliant about him in the slightest.

    From isabel_coady, on Fri 4 Jul 4:36PM
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