Get Well Soon Felipe!

Looking back at what happened in Saturday Qualifying of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, one can only look on in horror and thank the Almighty that things didn’t turn out worse than they did – ‘coz they sure could have been disastrous. I’m generally a guy with a very practical and light hearted approach to everything that happens around me. But when I first heard of Massa’s freak accident I sat down and uttered my small prayer to the force above for the well being of the Brazilian who also happens to be one of my favourite drivers on the F1 grid at the moment.

I’ve had the opportunity to boast of being within a foot of Felipe Massa when he autographed a picture of himself for me during the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2008 – him and Kimi Raikkonen. Many think he deserved to win the title last year after a splendid performance that saw him win more races than the guy who actually did go on to claim the Championship – Lewis Hamilton. Even when it was required the most – at the last round of the 2008 season when Massa just had to win while Hamilton could drag himself home in fifth and still claim the title, Massa did maximum damage. He is that kind of a driver really – someone who puts in all that he’s got when it matters the most – probably something he learnt in his years partnering Michael Schumacher at Ferrari before the German decided to retire.

So when I saw footage of the steel spring from Barrichello’s car ram straight into Massa’s helmet and watched him probably immediately lose consciousness and drive straight into the tyre wall, it was a mix of emotions that surged through me – concern, grief, curiousness, angst and even a little sadness. But out of it all comes a little bit of surprise as well – surprise at the kind of coincidence the whole event was. Now what are the chances of a steel spring coming lose from a perfectly well-running car? Now, what are the chances of that spring bouncing straight into the path of another driver – straight into his helmet? And then again, what are the chances that both drivers involved were Brazilian and had partnered Michael Schumacher at Ferrari? Weird, isn’t it?

Well, I’m gonna sign off hoping that Felipe gets well soon. There will really be nothing better than to watch the Babyface Assassin back in action at the next race – in Valencia on a street circuit that will be raced on only for the second time in history. Guess who won there the first time? Yup, Felipe Massa!