Ferrari optimistic over Massa
Fears that Felipe Massa’s Formula One career could be over following his freak accident in Hungary last weekend were eased yesterday when a Ferrari spokesman delivered further good news regarding his recovery.
Massa is in a serious but stable condition at the AEK military hospital in Budapest after being struck on the head by a spring that had fallen from the back of Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn GP car during Saturday’s qualifying session at the Hungaroring.
Massa has shown significant improvement in the past 36 hours after undergoing emergency surgery and subsequently being placed into a medically-induced coma to aid his recuperation from a double skull fracture.
The first signs of his recovery came on Monday when he was brought out of the coma and he has since been able to coherently respond to well-wishers at his bedside.
Perhaps even more significant was the news yesterday that Massa was able to see out of his left eye. Doctors are concerned the injury to his eye area could affect his vision and potentially jeopardise his F1 career.
“He is getting better. He spoke to several people in three different languages. He was giving coherent answers to people so the signs are improving,” Ferrari’s official spokesman, Luca Colajanni, said.
“He was also able to open his left eye and he could see out of it.
“So there are only positive signs at present.”
Such has been the rapid improvement in Massa’s condition that Peter Bazso, the medical director of the AEK military hospital, claimed the 28-year-old might be able to walk out of hospital in 10 days’ time.
Colajanni played down those comments, however, saying: “I think that yesterday he improved a lot but we have to remain cautious.
“It is not useful to put forecasts on these things. I think for the moment we should just enjoy the positive improvements that Felipe is making.”
Colajanni also admitted it was “possible” seven-time champion Michael Schumacher could replace Massa on a short-term basis while the Brazilian continues his recovery.
Doctors have said a best-case scenario would see Massa sidelined for a minimum of six weeks, meaning he would certainly be unavailable for the European and Belgian Grands Prix at the end of next month.
Schumacher’s spokeswoman yesterday revealed the 40-year-old German, now a Ferrari advisor, would consider an offer to return to the cockpit should it be forthcoming.
“We have said before that it is possible that Michael Schumacher could return to help us out,” Colajanni said.
“However, we have two test drivers at Ferrari (Luca Badoer and Marc Gene) at the moment and Michael is an advisor.
“We have not spoken to him, but it is possible that this might happen.
“But we will have to wait and see what happens. It is something for (Ferrari team principal) Stefano Domenicali to consider over the coming weeks.”
