Ferrari Encouraged By Massa's Progress

Felipe Massa is making good progress after suffering a fractured skull in an accident at last month's Hungarian Grand Prix, Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali said on Sunday.

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa arrives at a hospital in Sao Paulo

However, Domenicali did not comment on Italian media reports saying the Brazilian's recovery was going so well that he might be back at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Sept 13.

"Felipe is in excellent form and his recovery is going very well," Domenicali told the Italian team's website (www.ferrari.com) after visiting the 28-year-old in Brazil.

"I'm very happy about Felipe's state. The medical checks that have been carried out over the last two weeks continue to be very encouraging. Now it's important to be patient and take one step at a time, without any hurry."

Massa, last year's championship runner-up, spent several days in an induced coma and on a respirator in hospital after he was hit just above his left eye by a bouncing spring from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car during qualifying for the race.

Accident: A loose spring from Rubens Barrichello's car is pictured here just moments before it struck Felipe Massa on the head