Recovering Massa back in Brazil

FORMULA 1:FELIPE MASSA has delivered a resounding vote of thanks to family, friends, his doctors and a myriad of well-wishers who aided his recovery following life-saving surgery.

Massa is now back home in Sao Paulo after being released from the AEK military hospital in Budapest on Monday where he had spent the previous nine days.

Although still sporting a swollen left eye and deep gash where he was struck by flying debris which fractured his skull during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Massa is firmly on the mend.

And the 28-year-old believes the care and prayers of so many people ensured he was back on his feet quicker than expected.

“First of all I want to thank God,” said Massa, who spent the first two days following the operation in a medically-induced coma.

“Then I want to thank the doctors at the track and at Budapest’s AEK hospital, who have done a lot for me, and Dino Altmann (his personal physician), who came with my family from Brazil and who was extraordinary over the last few days.”

The only question mark now hanging over Massa would appear to be the date of his return to Formula One. He is expected to be out of action for at least four races.

Until then, seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher will be behind the wheel, starting in Valencia with the European Grand Prix on August 23rd.

Massa firmly believes Ferrari have chosen the right man for the job, even though he has been in retirement for almost three years.

“He knows how to win, he knows how to drive and he’s great,” said Massa of Schumacher.“It was the best choice handing over the car to such a fantastic person. I’m sure everybody will be happy to see him back on the track again, although I hope I’ll be back as soon as possible.

However, Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone yesterday warned against expecting too much from Schumacher.

Ecclestone feels the 40-year-old may find it difficult in a car that has not been a frontrunner this season, despite Kimi Raikkonen’s second place in Hungary nine days ago.

“I don’t think he (Schumacher) would have thought about taking it on if he didn’t think he could be competitive,” Ecclestone said.

“The car’s not competitive for a start, so he’s got a bit of an uphill struggle. But he’ll be there for as long as Felipe can’t drive. As soon as he’s back in business then Michael will give the seat over to him.”

Despite the warning, Ecclestone still believes the move for Schumacher will make the other teams be wary. “I think he’s going to give one or two of them a driving lesson,” he said.

Schumacher’s preparations for his return were hampered on Monday by the Red Bull and Williams teams who have opposed Ferrari’s request to let the German test in Massa’s F60 car prior to Valencia.

Formula One regulations do not allow track testing during the season, although Schumacher completed 70 laps in a 2007 version Ferrari at Mugello near Florence last Friday.