Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo has said he is optimistic about Felipe Massa’s condition after visiting the team’s injured driver in Budapest on Monday. Massa remains stable in hospital following surgery on skull fractures he sustained in his qualifying accident at the Hungaroring on Saturday.
“I’m confident and optimistic about Felipe’s capacity to recover, also because he has excellent medical care and I want to thank the staff at the AEK hospital for the work they’re doing,” said di Montezemolo after meeting with doctors, as well as Massa’s wife and parents.
“It was a serious and incredible accident, but thank God this is a different situation compared to 1976 when I went to see Niki Lauda after the accident at the Nurburgring,” added. “We have to wait, but the signs are encouraging.” Formula 1
“Our first priority is Felipe’s recovery, Felipe’s progress and so on,” he said.
“Felipe’s been an important member of the Ferrari family for many years, since he arrived as a kid, so we all hope he can come back soon.”
Di Montezemlo added: “(Team principal Stefano) Domenicali has to think and make good proposals for the future.
“We don’t want to wait too long for Felipe, but our first priority now is to find out about Felipe, and only at that moment will we take a decision.” Independent
It is highly unlikely that Massa will race again this season, if ever, and
Di Montezemolo will have to make up his mind quickly if the team are to have two cars on the grid at the European Grand Prix in Valencia in three weeks.
The team have three reserve drivers on their books in addition to Massa’s team-mate, Kimi Raikkonen, in Luca Badoer, Marc Gené and Schumacher, the seven-times world champion.
With neither Badoer nor Gené thought likely to be given the seat, there was immediate speculation that Schumacher might make a sensational comeback, which was initially ruled out by his manager. However, Ferrari sources say all options are open.
Another candidate being mentioned in Formula One circles is Mirko Bortolotti, the 19-year-old Italian Formula Two driver, who impressed when given the chance to test the 2008 Ferrari Formula One car last year.
Alonso and Ferrari have denied that a deal is in place, but rumours persist that the two-times world champion has signed a contract and that Raikkonen is likely to make way for him. But this could change in the light of Massa’s injury and some believe it is possible that Raikkonen could yet be retained to drive alongside Alonso if the Brazilian does not return. Times Online
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