Felipe Massa is closing in on an emotional return to Formula One after jumping back behind the wheel for the first time since his horror injury.
Ferrari star Massa took part in a karting event in his native Brazil – his first taste of racing following his sickening accident at qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix in July when he required life-saving surgery.
The Brazilian, accompanied by personal doctor Dino Altmann, managed two laps at the Granja Viana circuit to the west of his home city of Sao Paulo before rain intervened.
However, Massa then completed 60 trouble-free laps on Tuesday, and is to continue karting over the next few days.
Ferrari have also confirmed that Massa will soon fly to the team headquarters in Maranello after where he will use the team’s static simulator.
It will afford Massa and Ferrari the opportunity to assess the 28-year-old’s reflexes bearing in mind his accident was just over nine weeks ago.
It was also only three weeks ago he had a titanium plate inserted into his skull at the point of impact where he was hit by a spring that had worked loose off Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn GP.
Although Ferrari initially indicated Massa would not return to F1 until next year, team boss Stefano Domenicali indicated following Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix he had not ruled out the prospect of a comeback before the end of this season.
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