Felipe Massa has been told that his left eye has fully healed following his accident in Hungary three months ago, but he will not take part in this season’s final grand prix in Abu Dhabi.
The Ferrari driver was hit on the head by debris during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix and after emerging from a critical period in hospital he has since been recovering at home in Brazil.
He attended the Pitié Salpetrière hospital in Paris for further FIA-approved medical tests where doctors confirmed that his left eye has now fully recovered from the incident.
Initially there were concerns that Massa could lose his eye sight due to the the impact of the debris – an airborne steel spring weighing 800g.
His wound has also improved visually following cosmetic surgery in Miami.
“The first outcomes are positive, especially the ophthalmological exam which confirmed that Felipe, who arrived with his personal doctor Dino Altmann, has recovered the functions of his left eye by 100 per cent,” Ferrari confirmed.
Massa will be back behind the wheel of the F2007 Ferrari in Maranello next week, but he confirmed that he is unlikely to race before 2010.
“My hope is to come back soon, although I know the ideal thing is to return 100 per cent [fit] at the start of next season,” he said, “My dream would be to be at Abu Dhabi, but the chances of this happening are very, very small.”
Massa will attend his home grand prix in Brazil next week as a spectator.
