Massa will race again - doctor - Sport in brief

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Massa's rapid improvement since undergoing surgery on Saturday to repair a fractured skull has prompted doctors at the AEK military hospital in Budapest to move the Brazilian to his own private room.

It means Massa is now off the critical list, although the 28-year-old will continue to be closely monitored because, given the nature of his injury, caution is still required.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is to see Massa again on Wednesday after initially paying a visit on Monday when there were fears he may never drive again due to concern surrounding the sight in his left eye. However, Massa is able to converse in three different languages - Portuguese, Italian and English - and has now started to take his first few tentative steps out of bed.

Ferrari spokesperson Luca Colajanni said: "The most important situation is that Felipe is out of intensive care and now in his own private room.

"He is speaking more or less normally and he has managed his first few steps so, from a clinical point of view, everything is going in the right direction.

"There are no issues for the time being, and although we are still cautious, he is getting better and better. The situation is improving all the time. There was some suggestion he would leave the hospital soon but he will remain in Budapest for as long as is necessary."

The progress has convinced Massa's own doctor, Dino Altmann, the Ferrari star's motor-racing career is far from over.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Altmann said: "I have no doubt Felipe will race again. I'm sure of that.

"The situation is still delicate but I believe his life is not in danger anymore. From the beginning I felt the trauma wasn't as extended as it was believed but the improvements have gone beyond our wildest expectations."