Massa could be back on track on Monday
Ferrari have revealed that Felipe Massa could return to the test track as early as next week, with Monday mooted as a possible date for his first session in a Formula One car since fracturing his skull at July’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Massa has already tested his mettle at the wheel of a kart this month and has been visiting the Italian team’s headquarters this week, as he continues preparations for his F1 return, and the FIA has granted the Brazilian permission to drive a 2007-spec car fitted with GP2 tyres.
In anticipation of the test, Massa has spent two days in Modena evaluating his skills on Ferrari’s simulator. Joined by his race engineer Rob Smedley and performance engineer Giuliano Salvi, Massa ‘drove’ around the Barcelona circuit on Wednesday, before switching his attentions to the simulator’s Interlagos programme.
The 28 year-old will visit Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters again on Thursday to say hello to a few more team members, before journeying to Paris to undergo an FIA medical on Friday. If he passes the examination, and is declared fit to drive, the team are hopeful he’ll be on track in Italy on Monday.
It has also been announced that Massa is scheduled to wave the chequered flag at next weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix. Massa, who won the Interlagos race last year, follows in the footsteps of footballer Pele and supermodel Gisele Bundchen.
