Massa returns to the Ferrari cockpit 12 Oct 2009
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa was back behind the wheel of a Formula One car on Monday for the first time since fracturing his skull at July’s Hungarian Grand Prix. With the in-season test ban ruling out a run in this year’s F60, Massa used a privately-owned 2007-spec car fitted with GP2 tyres at Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit in Italy.
“The moment I got into the car it was exactly like before the accident, as if nothing had happened,” the Brazilian explained. ”It was important to demonstrate to the people who work with me, that nothing has changed, that I can be competitive and that I can contribute to what will be the new car and to next year’s fight for the title. I knew that everything was 95 percent alright, but after today I can even cancel the last five percent of doubt, I still might have had.”
Although rain limited his running to a dozen laps in the morning, he went out again after lunch and racked up 100 kilometres on a dry circuit. Massa is hoping to make his competitive Formula One return at March’s Bahrain Grand Prix, which will be the opening race of the 2010 season.
