Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is in a stable condition after a 170mph crash in qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Massa was seriously hurt after apparently being hit on the helmet by a spring that worked loose from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP in the final moments of the middle 15-minute period of qualifying.

The Brazilian, 28, appeared to be knocked unconscious, with his right fooot jamming down on the throttle as he drove straight into a tyre wall.

He was treated at the track then underwent emergency surgery at Budapest's AEK military hospital, where he will be kept under observation overnight.

A hospital spokesman said: "He had suffered serious, life-threatening injuries including loss of consciousness and a fracture of the forehead on the left side and a fracture on the base of the skull. After the operation he is being cared for in intensive care and he is now in a stable, satisfactory condition."

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