Injured Massa might not be able to race again: Doctors

Doctors who operated upon Felipe Massa are not certain if the Brazilian could race again; say eye is considerably damaged

Doctors who operated upon Felipe Massa are not certain if the Brazilian could race again; say eye is considerably damaged

Felipe Massa has woken up and made significant progress as he recovers from life-threatening injuries suffered in a crash during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday.

Ferrari mechanics pray for Felipe Massa's speedy recovery at the Hungaroring after Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix. pic/getty images

The Brazilian Ferrari driver is being treated at the AEK military Hospital in Budapest, where doctors offered an optimistic outlook at a press conference last night.

"In the last 24 hours some major changes have gone through in the condition of Felipe Massa," said Colonel doctor Lajos Zsiros. "His condition continues to be stable."

Massa has been taken out of an induced coma and is responding to questions.

"As we speak he is sleepy, but he gives adequate answers to the questions we ask him, and he can move his arms and legs spontaneously," Zsiros added. "Right now he has no fever, and we have removed the drain tube from his wound. Further improvement of his condition can be expected. During the night we do not plan to do any more interventions on him."

Massa was hurt when a spring which had fallen from the back of Rubens Barrichello's car struck him on the helmet at 162 mph, dazing him and causing him to lose control of his car and crash into the tyre barriers at high speed. The accident has left questions over the 28-year-old's future in Formula One.

Earlier yesterday, it was thought that the main threat was an apparent injury to Massa's left eye, which was thought to have been suffered when his helmet was penetrated by the spring.

Professor Robert Veres, the surgeon who operated on Massa over the weekend, earlier said: "He has suffered some damage to the eye.

"We don't know if he'll be able to race again."

However, Zsiros offered no further information on the condition of Massa's eye at the press conference later in the day.

"It is too early to answer this question," he said. "We can give no positive neither negative answer to this, because at this stage the vision cannot be examined."