Photo: LAT Images / FIA F2 Championship
Formula 2 racer Juan Manuel Correa is a critical but stable condition following “new complications” as a result of the feature race accident at Spa.
Correa underwent surgery for leg fractures and a minor spinal injury at hospital in Liege following the crash – in which Anthoine Hubert lost his life – before being moved earlier this week to an intensive care unit in London.
A statement issued on Friday night on behalf of his parents Juan Carlos and Maria explained that Correa had been diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and was now in an induced coma.
The full statement read: “First of all, on behalf of our son we wish to thank everyone within and outside the motorsports community for the wonderful and caring get well wishes that we have received, as well as messages for a speedy recovery. We are confident that Juan Manuel will review them all himself once he is back in charge of his social media accounts.
“Honoring our son?s straight-to-the-point and honesty that characterizes him, we wish to update you on the status of his injuries and physical condition.
“As time has progressed, new complications have surfaced as a consequence of the massive impact he suffered Saturday in Belgium. On his arrival to London, Juan Manuel was diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. This is an injury considered common in high impact accidents such as this one. Unfortunately, this injury resulted in Juan Manuel falling into Acute Respiratory Failure. Juan Manuel is currently in an Intensive Care Unit that specializes in respiratory injuries. At this point of time he is an in induced state of unconsciousness and under ECMO support. Juan Manuel is in critical but stable condition.
“We are confident that our son will surprise us like he always does with his tremendous fighting will and strength and will recover completely.
“At this time, we kindly request that our privacy and space be respected. As a family, we need to pull together and be 100% there for Juan Manuel.
“Maria and I wish to take this opportunity to give our condolences to the Hubert family for their loss. Our hearts are broken, and we can only imagine the pain this loss has brought them.”
Correa’s Sauber Junior Team by Charouz is operating just one F2 car at Monza this weekend in his absence. The American driver scored podiums in the Baku and Paul Ricard sprint races earlier this year in his rookie campaign.
Team-mate Callum Ilott claimed his maiden pole in qualifying on Friday, a result he dedicated to Correa, Hubert and their families.