BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Felipe Massa was in “life-threatening'' condition after undergoing emergency surgery on a skull fracture following a violent crash in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.

“Massa's condition is serious, life-threatening but stable,'' AEK military hospital medical director Peter Bazso said at a news conference. Bazso and chief surgeon Lajos Zsiros said they expect the Brazilian driver to be awakened on Sunday.

They said Massa will be kept sedated on a respirator overnight in the intensive care unit.

Ferrari denied Massa's condition was life-threatening, with team spokesman Luca Colajanni saying his state ``was a positive one.''

Massa underwent surgery one hour after arriving at AEK hospital at 3:20 p.m. local time, the doctors said.

The 28-year-old Massa also suffered a concussion, but was conscious and in stable condition when he was airlifted to the hospital, Ferrari said.

A spring that had fallen off Rubens Barrichello's Formula One car flew up and struck Massa in the helmet during qualifying. An apparently dazed Massa continued straight through a curb, across the track and through the gravel area alongside the circuit before slamming into the tire barrier.

The impact of the rear suspension part – a standard component which Brawn GP team principal Ross Brawn believed was made of steel – damaged the left side of Massa's helmet, ripping out the visor and leaving a long dent on its side. Blood was seen above Massa's left brow.

``Following a complete medical examination it emerged that he had suffered a cut on his forehead, a bone damage of his skull and a brain concussion,'' Ferrari said in a statement.

Barrichello, a fellow Brazilian, went to the medical center to check on Massa's condition and said the Ferrari driver appeared to be doing fine despite the cut above his left eye.

``He was in shock,'' Barrichello told The Associated Press.

``Considering the gravity of the accident, I think he's in OK shape.''

Massa appeared to regain consciousness just before the crash at turn No. 4 as his front brakes seemed to lock ahead of the violent impact.

He remained in the car for a considerable time and was assisted out before being taken to the medical center. He was then taken to the helicopter on a stretcher, wearing a neckbrace.

The crash shredded the front of his Ferrari, with both tires gone and the front nose open.

The crash came less than a week after Henry Surtees, the son of former F1 champion John Surtees, died in an F2 race last Sunday.

Surtees was struck in the head by a tire from another car, causing him to lose consciousness and drive into a barrier.

``It is not a coincidence that something happened right now,'' Barrichello told reporters. ``Something needs to be done. Yes, absolutely.''

No F1 driver has died on the track since three-time champion Ayrton Senna's crash at Imola 15 years ago.