Massa eager to begin racing again

(GETTY IMAGES)

Ferrari's Felipe Massa is recovering well from his accident in Hungary last month and is waiting for doctors to give him the go-ahead to race again, his fellow Brazilian Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello said yesterday.

"I spent the afternoon with Felipe ... he is fine and exactly the same person as before, thank God," Barrichello, who visited Massa at his home, said on his Twitter.

Barrichello's Brawn car lost a spring weighing almost one kilo that struck Massa on his helmet just above his left eye during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix last month.

Massa, who fractured his skull and suffered concussion in the accident, spent more than a week in a Budapest hospital before returning to Brazil early this month to rest and continue with his recovery at home.

"On Felipe's comeback we need to be patient ... he has to be 100 per cent before driving again ... He doesn't lack the will," added Barrichello. "I loved the afternoon ... he was so well and in good spirits."

Seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher had intended to come out of retirement to take Massa's place but that plan was scuppered because the German has not recovered from a neck injury sustained in a motorcycling accident in February.

Ferrari have instead turned to experienced Italian test driver Luca Badoer to take Massa's seat in the European Grand Prix in Valencia on 23cAugust.

No timetable has been given for Massa, world championship runner-up last year, to return to Formula One.