Felipe Massa

Felipe Massa’s condition is improving and doctors at the Budapest hospital where he is have said they are reassured about the progress he is making.

The Ferrari driver suffered a skull fracture and concussion when he crashed during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. The accident was caused when he was hit on the head by a spring that had come off Rubens Barrichello’s car.

After an emergency operation on Saturday afternoon, Massa was put in an induced coma to help his recovery – and since then he has been making good progress.

Hungarian defence ministry spokesman Istvan Bocskai said that tests carried out on Massa were ‘reassuring’ about his condition. He could also move his hands and his legs – which were positive signs that there was no damage to his brain.

Bocskai told Hungarian television: “He’s woken up (from sedation) more and more often now and he’s able to communicate passively, that is, he reacts when he’s talked to. We are optimistic, in our hope a slow recovery is beginning.”

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is flying to Budapest on Monday to be with Massa, who has also had visits from F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Barrichello and members of Ferrari including team principal Stefano Domenicali.

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