Formula 3 racer Sophia Floersch is recovering following a successful nine-hour surgery on her spine after a horrifying crash during the Macau Grand Prix, according to her team Van Amersfoort Racing.
Her surgery is said to have been a success after the team of specialist surgeons were able to repair her fractured spine and remove a bone splinter which was in close proximity to her spinal cord.
Post-operation checks have concluded her nerves are reacting well to the surgery which is a positive signal for her recovery process.
The 17-year-old catapulted backwards into a photographer's tower at high-speed – which was a result of a collision with Jehan Deruvala on the long straight towards Lisboa corner.
Her car was unable to slow down due to the heavy damage it received and subsequently slid towards a blue sausage kerb on the inside of the corner – new for 2018. This caused her car to launch into the air, hitting the side of All-Japan F3 champion Sho Tsuboi as she climbed into the air.
Van Amersfoort Racing released a statement on Tuesday morning which said: "Sophia came out of her surgery yesterday.
"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.
"Nerve monitoring shows that her vital nerve functions react well, therefore the initial signs give a positive outlook towards her recovery."
