Massa out of danger but no word on F1 career

New Delhi: Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Brazil is now out of danger and could be out of his hospital bed in Budapest in less than two weeks.

But clouds still hang over his Formula One career even as Ferrari is delighted at Massa's improvement.

"What is incredible to see that just after three days after the accident, such a fantastic improvement. As I said 'prudenzza', but it is really nice to see him replying after what has happened," said Stefano Domenicali, Principal of the Ferrari Formula One team.

Every time Massa sleeps the moment when he was hit on his helmet by a car spring probably return to haunt him.

Those few seconds may have ended his Formula One career.

Ferrari may think he will be back soon but Formula One boss Bernie Eccelstone says the 2009 season is over for the Brazilian.

"It's difficult to say whether or not he's going to be in a position to compete this year. Next year I don't know, but I doubt we'll see him this year," said Eccelstone.

The Massa family won't worry about that one bit as with each passing day the health bulletin gets better.

Massa is off the respirator and has been even talking to his family and well wishers who come to visit him at the hospital in Budapest.

"He knows exactly what is right and left. So his left eye has no problem. His eyesight is OK. So just good news today," said Massa's family doctor Dino Altmann.

Among those who visited him on Wednesday was former Ferrari director Jean Todt.

"You know, I think that at the moment it is important that he goes back to life. And then time will tell," said Todt.

Even as Massa heals, the debate over safety standards in Formula One continues to rage on. An enquiry is on and teams are waiting to find out what the verdict will be.

"It was really a very unfortunate situation but I think that FIA has started an investigation to understand and to see as always if after certain incident there is something to learn and something to react. This is what I can say, but no more than that," Domenicali said.

Massa should be out of the hospital in 10 days if all goes well and that's what fans around the world are counting on.