• Monaco Grand Prix

Massa crash caused by suspension failure

ESPN Staff
May 28, 2013 « Domenicali wants Ferrari test | Hamilton hits back at Vettel 'buses' jibe »
Felipe Massa crashed heavily at Ste Devote twice in Monaco © Sutton Images
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Ferrari has confirmed that Felipe Massa's crash in the Monaco Grand Prix was caused by suspension failure.

Massa crashed heavily at Ste Devote for the second time in the weekend during the race, hitting the wall on the outside of the track at the start of the braking zone. With the first incident having been put down to driver error, technical director Pat Fry was quick to announce his suspicions that the second was a result of a problem with the car.

After receiving the car back at its Maranello headquarters, Ferrari confirmed on its website that a front left suspension failure was the cause of the crash.

'The findings validated the first impressions of the engineers, confirming that the accident was caused by an element of the front left suspension breaking,' the statement read. 'With all the required inspections completed to analyse what happened at the Monegasque circuit, the Car Assembly department can now start work in preparing the car for the Canadian Grand Prix. The cars will be flown off to Montreal this weekend for the much awaited race at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit, which looks like being a very important one in terms of the Scuderia's championship aspirations.'

Team principal Stefano Domenicali said he was just pleased that Massa escaped unscathed.

"The best news to come out of the Monaco weekend is that Felipe is fine," Domenicali said. "Two big accidents, just over twenty fours apart and all he has to show for it is a bit of muscle pain. Fortunately there were no other injuries."

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