Ferrari driver Felipe Massa will be kept under sedation for 48 hours after he suffered a fractured skull during Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.

The 28-year-old hit a tyre wall after a spring from fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello’s car hit his helmet.

Massa was woken on Sunday for a brain scan that produced reassuring results.

"It brought the result that we had expected concerning an injury of this type," said doctor in chief Peter Bazso at Budapest’s AEK military hospital.

Massa’s father, mother and pregnant wife have flown in to Hungary from Brazil and the doctor added that the driver remained in intensive care and in an "acute phase" of treatment.

And following Kimi Raikkonen’s second-place finish at the Hungaroring on Sunday, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali dedicated the result to Massa.

"At this time all our thoughts are with him and his family, and I think this sentiment also applies to those who are close to him and to fans all over the world," said Domenicali.

"Kimi drove a great race and the team worked in impeccable fashion, concentrating on the job, despite what happened.

"We got the best result we were capable of but please allow me on behalf of everyone at Ferrari to send our best wishes to Felipe. We love you and we are all thinking of you."

Race winner Lewis Hamilton extended his goodwill to Massa following the Briton’s first victory of the season.

"Maybe I can speak for all the drivers but Saturday was quite a sad day and we missed Felipe," stated the defending world champion.

"For me, I’ve had a great relationship with Felipe for quite a few years now and some great battles with him.

"I’m just glad the surgery went well and we’re just going to keep him in our thoughts and prayers, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

"He’s got a child coming, so he needs to get back into top shape so when he’s finally a dad he can do the job well."

"I would be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking of him in the the middle of the race"

Rubens Barrichello

After being struck on the helmet by the 1kg spring from Barrichello’s car, Massa’s feet are believed to have come to rest on both the throttle and brake and his car ploughed head on into a tyre wall at about 125mph.

Massa was swiftly attended to by trackside medics before being taken to the circuit’s medical centre, after which he was airlifted to hospital.

Meanwhile, Barrichello revealed his thoughts were with Massa, even during the race.

He conceded: "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 the middle of the race."

Massa’s accident came days after Formula Two driver Henry Surtees, 18, was killed in what was described as a "freak" accident during a race at Brands Hatch.

The son of motorsport legend John Surtees was struck by a wheel that flew off a competitor’s car.

Barrichello later led the calls for more stringent safety measures to be looked into. Referring to Surtees, the veteran refused to believe the two incidents were coincidental.

"I honestly don’t believe in coincidences in life," he said on Saturday. "Things happen for a reason and I think this is the second message.

606: MASSA TRIBUTES

"Thank goodness Massa, having made it through the night, looks like he his winning"

The Legend that is PhilSlocombe

"Imola [where Ayrton Senna died in 1994] was a message and the cars were improved. Unfortunately, we lost a boy [Surtees], which is tremendously sad.

"It is not a coincidence something happened right now. In the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association we talked quite a lot about it yesterday – and something needs to be done. Absolutely.

"But I don’t know what. We need to sit down and have a look at it. I think the cars are a hell of a lot safer, really a lot safer, but there is no coincidence on this and something needs to be looked at."

Hamilton described the crash as "very scary" and said it must be looked into, while Jenson Button said it proved there "is still more we need to do on safety".

Button and Barrichello’s team boss Ross Brawn said the team are still investigating why the spring came loose from the car.

"We had a problem with the back of the car and we are still investigating," explained Brawn.

"We haven’t had the piece back from [motorsport governing body] the FIA yet so once we get it back we can understand what occurred.

"It’s the first time we’ve really had a problem with the car as it has been so reliable."</p

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