Massa continues to improve, could move to Paris hospital Thursday

HAMBURG - The condition of Felipe Massa continues to improve in a Budapest hospital and the Formula One driver could be transferred to a Paris clinic as early Thursday.

The Ferrari driver has already taken his first steps and should be released from intensive care Wednesday, the Italian marque said in a statement.

Meanwhile, his father Luis Antonio Massa told the Brazilian Folha de S. Paulo newspaper that the 28-year-old would be moving to a Paris clinic for further treatment.

Massa suffered a skull fracture in a freak accident Saturday when a spring from fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn GP car broke loose and struck him on the helmet during a Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session at the Hungaroring.

The Brazilian suffered multiple skull fractures in the accident and possible damage to his left eye, although Massa’s personal physician Dino Altmann said Tuesday that the driver didn’t seem to be suffering from any visible damage.

“From a clinical and radiological point of view everything is going extremely well. Felipe will stay at AEK hospital for the next few days, until he can be taken somewhere else,” Ferrari said.

It is reported that leading orthopaedic surgeon Gerard Saillant, who in the past has operated on Brazilian striker Ronaldo and seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, will operate on Massa.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is doubtful Massa will return to the sport in 2009, which has led to speculation that Schumacher could come out of retirement to drive for Ferrari at the European GP in Valencia Aug 23.

However, it is more likely that Ferrari reserve driver Marc Gene or test driver Luca Badoer will replace Massa.