Discharged Massa vows to make speedy return to track
FELIPE MASSA says he is determined to return to racing as soon as possible after being discharged from his Budapest hospital bed following brain surgery.
In his first interview since his horror crash in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Massa admitted remembering nothing about the incident, which occurred when he was hit by a spring from Rubens Barrichello’s car in front.
Massa has now flown to his native Brazil to continue his recovery but despite undergoing surgery just 10 days ago, the 28-year-old is already looking forward to making a return.
“I don’t remember anything and that’s why what the doctors did had to be explained to me,” Massa said. “When I saw Rob Smedley, his race engineer, he asked me if I remembered Rubens, but the last thing I remembered was when I was behind him at the end of my fast lap in Q2, and then it’s blank. It’s difficult to explain. I’m feeling much better now and I want to recover as soon as possible to get back behind the wheel of a Ferrari.”
Massa will be replaced by seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher for the European Grand Prix in Valencia on 23 August and says he has no advice for the 40-year-old German, convinced his Ferrari is in good hands. “Michael doesn’t need my advice,” he added. “It was him who gave me many tips during my career when we were racing together.
“He knows how to win, he knows how to drive and he’s great. It was the best choice handing over the car to such a fantastic person and I’m sure that everybody will be happy to see him back on the track again.
“Although I hope I’ll be back on the track with Ferrari as soon as possible. Many things have happened over the last days and I want to get back to a normal life.”