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Recovering Brazilian Felipe Massa could be back behind the wheel of a Formula One car in Italy next week despite a ban on testing during the season, Ferrari said today.
“It is possible Felipe will drive a Formula One car in the coming days, but it’s not been decided exactly when,” a spokesman said.
Massa is recovering from a life-threatening head injury that he suffered in July when he was hit by bouncing debris in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.
He has not driven a Formula One car since then but arrived at Ferrari’s Maranello factory on Monday to improve his fitness, work in the race simulator and meet team members returning from the weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. The Independent
The FIA, the governing body of the sport, has allowed the test, which will be taken in a 2007-vintage Ferrari Formula One car that will be fitted with GP2 tires.
However, while Massa has already said he will not be able to return for his home race in Brazil in two weeks’ time, he has not ruled out the possibility of racing again this season.
“It may be too close to the limit,” Massa said of a return in Brazil where the world title race could be decided. “We’ll see for Abu Dhabi (on Nov 1), we’ll need FIA authorisation. It depends on the test (of the F2007).”
“I perfectly remember how to drive,” Massa said “My worry isn’t to immediately get a good lap time, but just to drive again.” Telegraph.co.uk
