Race personnel and pit crew are seen at the accident site after Sophia Floersch flew over the barriers and crashed into a fence during a Formula Three race at the Macau Grand Prix.
Race personnel and pit crew are seen at the accident site after Sophia Floersch flew over the barriers and crashed into a fence during a Formula Three race at the Macau Grand Prix.
Mai Shangim/Reuters
CNN  — 

A teenage German driver has fractured her spine after suffering a horrifying airborne crash at Macau Grand Prix’s Formula Three final on Sunday.

In dramatic video footage which has been shared on social media, Sophia Floersch – who is only 17 years old – can be seen losing control of her Van Amersfoort Racing car and flying over her competitors before slamming into the track fence.

On Twitter, Floersch thanked everyone for the messages of support.

“Just wanted to let everybody know that I am fine but will be going into Surgery tomorrow morning,” she wrote, adding that there will be an update soon.

In a medical report published by Van Amersfoort Racing, it says Floersch is conscious and suffered a spinal fracture as a result of the terrifying accident in the Chinese territory.

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.
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.
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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.
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.
Alex Coppel/Herald Sun/Getty Images
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.
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.
JEAN-LOUP GAUTREAU/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
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.
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.
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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.
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.
Allsport UK /Allsport
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.
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.
Getty Images/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
How crashes have shaped Formula One

The medical report added that Floersch is “not fit to race.”

The governing body of motor sport, the FIA, also published a statement on Facebook which said that Japan’s Sho Tsuboi – whose car Floersch collided with – had also been taken to a local hospital for “further evaluation,” as well as two members of the media and one marshal.