BUDAPEST, Hungary — Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo issued a statement on Monday saying that "the signs are encouraging" as his driver Felipe Massa continues to recover in a hospital here. Massa was hurt in a freakish crash on Saturday during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Montezemolo did not confirm rumors in the German and Italian media that seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, 40, may make a temporary comeback to replace Massa at upcoming Grand Prix races.
"I'm heading back to Maranello with [Stefano] Domenicali [Ferrari team boss], who will make suggestions how to substitute the Brazilian driver until he returns, which I hope will be very soon," Montezemolo said in a statement posted on the Ferrari media Web site. "We'll make a decision when the time is right, considering that there's a break of a month now."
Massa's official Web site issued a statement on Monday that said "all the exams done by the Hungarian medical team were negative, which is a further confirmation of the encouraging signs over the last hours.
"As far as his left eye is concerned, the doctors confirmed that close evaluation has to be done over the next days."
In photos taken shortly after the crash, Massa's left eye appeared to be swollen shut. Massa, 28, suffered skull fractures when he was struck by a spring from the Brawn GP car of fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello after Barrichello crashed at the Hungaroring circuit. He underwent surgery and has since been recovering.
"It was a serious and incredible accident," said Montezemolo. "But thank God this is a different situation compared to 1976 when I went to see Niki Lauda after the accident at the Nürburgring. We have to wait, but the signs are encouraging."
Lauda survived the fiery crash, but recently issued a warning about the dangers inherent in open-cockpit racing following the death on July 19 of 18-year-old Henry Surtees. Surtees, son of F1 great John Surtees, died after he was struck by a wheel and tire that came off another driver's car in an F2 race at Brands Hatch Circuit near London.
The Ferrari Web site has set up a special section for get-well wishes for Massa.
Inside Line says: Get that office pool started on just who will replace Massa, now that he seems to be on the road to recovery. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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