‘Positive outlook’ for Sophia Floersch after nine-hour spinal operation

Sophia Floersch has undergone a lengthy operation on her spine to repair the injury she suffered in Sunday’s horrific crash at the Macau Formula Three Grand Prix.

Her Van Amersfoort Racing team released a statement detailing the complicated procedure, adding “the initial signs give a positive outlook towards her recovery.”

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“It took a team of specialists over nine hours to repair her fractured vertebra and remove a bone splinter, which was sitting dangerously close to her spinal cord,” the statement read.

During the operations, doctors used bone from Floersch’s hip to repair the damaged vertebrae.

Race personnel and pit crew at the accident site after Sophia Floersch's crash.

READ: Sophia Floersch had ‘an angel on her shoulder’ to survive crash’

The 17-year-old’s car was traveling at 171.6 mph (276.2 kph) when she lost control, going airborne and slamming into the track fence where marshals and photographers were gathered.

Japanese driver Sho Tsuboi, whose car Floersch collided with, was also taken to hospital along with two members of the media and one marshal.

‘I’m going to come back!’

In a first message since the operation, Floersch thanked her doctor in Macau, Riccardo Ceccarelli, and all her fans for helping her through the last few days.

“[I] hope from now on it only gets better,” she posted on Facebook. “I have to stay a few more days in Macau until I’m transportable.

“I want to thank all of my fans for every single get-well wishes, which I now start reading. This really motivates me and gives me courage.

“My thoughts are also with everyone who was involved in the accident. I hope everybody is healthy. “

The German also praised the people who attended to her in the car for their “encouraging, calming words in these tough minutes.”

“Last but not least my Team Van Amersfoort Racing, Facu and Ferdinand, who all suffer with me – you are phenomenal. I’m going to come back!

“By the way,” she finished. “Dallara (car manufacturer) built a very good chassis.”

‘No fear of paralysis’

Van Amersfoort Racing team principal Frits van Amersfoort has told the BBC that “everything is working and everything is in order” following the procedure.

“Paralysis was the main fear,” he explained. “That’s why the operation had to be done quite quickly because there was a danger it [her spinal cord] could be damaged.

“We are extremely happy that she is now recovering and that everything went extremely well. There’s no fear of paralysis whatsoever.”

Fernando Alonso's spectacular crash at Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix reignited the debate around driver safety, specifically the new "halo." Built around the cockpit to protect drivers from debris, it appeared to come to the rescue of Charles Leclerc as Alonso's airborne car bounced off it and over him.

It was the second serious incident Alonso has been involved in in as many years, although his crash at the 2016 was arguably worse. After colliding with Esteban Gutierrez, Alonso's car hit the wall at 200mph, flipping through the air before coming to rest upside down. "I'm lucky to be here and thankful to be here," Alonso said after the crash.

Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, San Marino 1994 —

Ayrton Senna's death during the 1994 San Marino GP, the day after fellow driver Roland Ratzenberger was killed in qualifying, shocked the world. A three-time world champion, the Brazilian is still regarded as one of the greatest drivers ever. Senna's death resulted in widespread changes, including limiting engine size and power and raised cockpits sides to offer drivers more protection. Suspension also changed to prevent wheels from becoming disconnected from the front wing.

Jules Bianchi, Suzuka 2014 —

Jules Bianchi's death in 2015 -- nine months after his crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix -- was the first in Formula One since Senna's. On a sodden Suzuka track, Bianchi lost control of his car and smashed into a recovery vehicle dealing with an earlier crash involving driver Adrian Sutil. As a result of the incident, F1 changed regulations for drainage on tracks and how vehicles would respond to crashes.

Niki Lauda, Nürburgring 1976 —

Three-time Formula One world champion Niki Lauda suffered extensive burns to his head and inhaled toxic fumes that damaged his lungs following a crash at Nürburgring in 1976. The incident took place at a point on the 22.8 km circuit that was almost impossible to access and Lauda had to be pulled from the wreckage by four fellow drivers. After the crash, the Nürburgring was removed from the F1 calendar for the following season.

Thirteen drivers, Spa-Francorchamps 1998 —

If the first corner in Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix seemed hectic, it pales in comparison to that of the 1998 edition. In yet another Spa deluge and with the drivers barely visible on TV through the rain, 13 drivers spun out in the opening seconds. The race restarted more than an hour later and featured 18 of the 22 drivers as teams were then allowed spare cars, a rule that has since been abolished.

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Despite the terrifying incident, Van Amersfoort said he was “quite sure” Floersch would return to racing “after some time.”

“Luckily enough winter is now beginning so she will have time to recover and I am quite sure that she will be back.

“That’s what the racing blood always does – coming back because this is the sport we all love.”