recovering from injury

[Sonic]

Massa's current situation got me to thinking about drivers who have returned from serious injury and how their form was affected (if at all). The last driver I can recall being in a coma after a shunt was wendlinger in'94. IIRC he did return but was never the same driver again.

Lauda is another obvious example and aside from those early races after his return seemed to be largely the same behind the wheel.

Any other examples?

[ioan]

There were other drivers that were in a coma after an accident. Most recent that I remember is Da Matta, and he was in coma for months.

Hakkinen also was in come for some time after his accident in Oz, he also did well after that.

[christophulus]

A former F1 driver - Alex Zanardi is doing well in the WTCC after losing both legs in that horrific crash.

[Mark]

Well the most recent is Mark Webber after fracturing his leg in the off-season.

However I'd say breaking your leg is rather different to life threatening head injuries.

They are talking about Massa's eye being a problem, question is can you race with one eye? Serious question, I don't know!

[ArrowsFA1]

Helmut Marko suffered a career-ending eye injury when a stone pierced his visor during the 1972 French GP.

[ioan]

Well the most recent is Mark Webber after fracturing his leg in the off-season.

However I'd say breaking your leg is rather different to life threatening head injuries.

They are talking about Massa's eye being a problem, question is can you race with one eye? Serious question, I don't know!

There was this British minister or whatever who raced at Le Mans last month with some vision impairment.

[Dave B]

While it's fascinating to look back at drivers who have made successful (or otherwise) recoveries, I'd advise caution against using previous cases to forecast how Massa might fare.

Head injuries are the strangest thing: strike two people in the same place with the same force and one might barely notice while it proves fatal for the other.

It's bad enough when the armchair experts round here assume they know it all about racing, but that's part of and parcel of a motorsports forum. They should know better that to start speculating about medical conditions.

[Sonic]

There were other drivers that were in a coma after an accident. Most recent that I remember is Da Matta, and he was in coma for months.

Hakkinen also was in come for some time after his accident in Oz, he also did well after that.

doh! How did I manage to forget that?!? And I call myself a fan! I hereby put myself in the corner.

[ArrowsFA1]

While it's fascinating to look back at drivers who have made successful (or otherwise) recoveries, I'd advise caution against using previous cases to forecast how Massa might fare.

Good point

[Firstgear]

DC survived a plane crash, and although I don't remember if he was injured, it could still be called a near death experience. I think he drove better after that, as it probably made him realize how precious life really is.

If (and I hope) Massa recovers completely I don't think it will change him as a driver, as he was knocked out before he knew what was happening and has no memory of the accident. He won't be mentally traumatized if he didn't see and feel the accident due to his being unconcious.

Becoming a father may change him though, after an experience like this.