Massa continues F1 comeback

(GETTY IMAGES)

Felipe Massa is to take another positive step on the road to making a return to Formula One over the next few days.

Massa was this week back behind the wheel of a kart for the first time since his horrific accident in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix in late July when he required life-saving surgery.

The Brazilian, accompanied by personal doctor Dino Altmann, managed just two laps on Monday at the Granja Viana circuit to the west of his home city of Sao Paulo before rain intervened.

However, Massa then completed 60 trouble-free laps yesterday, and is to continue karting over the next few days.

Of greater significance, however, is Ferrari confirming Massa is to fly to the team headquarters in Maranello soon after where he will use the team's static simulator.

It will afford Massa and Ferrari the opportunity to assess the 28- year-old's reflexes bearing in mind his accident was just over nine weeks ago.

It was also only three weeks ago he had a titanium plate inserted into his skull at the point of impact where he was hit by a spring that had worked loose off Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP.

Although Ferrari initially indicated Massa would not return to F1 until next year, team boss Stefano Domenicali indicated following Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix he had not ruled out the prospect of a comeback before the end of this season.