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Ferrari hoping fast recovering Massa will return

Michael Schumacher may stand in
Vision returns in the Brazilian’s left eye

BUDAPEST: Felipe Massa continued to show improvements in his condition on Tuesday, and Ferrari officials expressed hope that he could eventually return to Formula One.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali and his predecessor Jean Todt visited Massa and his family in the hospital, where the Brazilian driver is recuperating from surgery on multiple skull fractures following a high-speed crash.

Domenicali said Massa’s recovery would be a “step by step” process but sounded optimistic about the Brazilian’s chances of returning to the track.

Fantastic improvement

“As soon as he will be back, that is his car,” Domenicali said outside the hospital. “For me it was incredible to see a fantastic improvement after just three days.”

Meanwhile in an interesting development, seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher has not ruled out standing in for Massa although a comeback is highly unlikely, the retired champion’s spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

“In these circumstances he would want to consider it and not categorically say no,” said Sabine Kehm.

Schumacher’s Willi Weber dismissed the possibility of the 40-year-old racing again, however.

“Michael will not sit in a car in Valencia. This is out of the question,” said Weber.

“What would we expect from Schumacher if he stepped into a Formula One car? To win. The expectations from both sides would be too high,” said Weber.

He added that the German could possibly test cars in the future but that would as far as he would go: “For anything else it is a clear ’No’.”

Doctors said Monday that Massa could be released as early as next week.

Massa’s family doctor Dino Altman on Tuesday described the racer as “more alert than he was before” and “improving continuously,” adding that Massa was answering questions in three languages.

Altman also addressed what is considered one of the most crucial issues with Massa’s health — vision in his left eye, which was injured in the accident.

“Yes, he can see with his left eye,” Altman said. “He knows what’s right and left so his left eye has no problems. His eyesight is OK.”

Doctors said Massa was awake and breathing unassisted, able to move his limbs and having brief conversations with family members and the medical staff.

Peter Bazso, medical director of the AEK hospital, said his condition could still deteriorate again, but that “naturally, this risk is diminishing day by day.”

Bazso added that it was possible to fully recover from injuries like those suffered by Massa.

“I expect him to leave the hospital on his own two feet,” Bazso said. “I don’t rule out (Massa) leaving within 10 days.”

Wife, father optimistic

Raffaela, Massa’s wife who is six months pregnant with their first child, doesn’t think he will have any long-term physical injuries and hopes he can return to racing.

“He is doing good,” she told Brazil’s Globo TV. “Soon he will be giving joy to all in his little red car on the speedway.”

Massa’s father, Luiz Antonio, said that he remained “very optimistic” following Massa’s improvement. “I’d only ask that you all keep cheering and praying for him. I’m certain here shortly he’ll return to the racetrack,” he said.

A day after the accident, the Rio de Janeiro daily Extra’s front page read: “Brazil Prays for Massa.”

Dudu Massa, Felipe’s brother, also in Hungary, added: “Thank God, Felipe is getting better. What is important is that everybody keeps supporting him, that this prayer chain in Brazil grows. Keep on with the faith — soon you’ll see him driving again.” — Agencies

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