Schumi Visits Massa In Hospital

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Michael Schumacher visited injured Formula One driver Felipe Massa on Saturday at the Hungarian hospital where the 28-year-old Brazilian is recovering from his high-speed crash.

Schumacher, who is coming out of retirement to stand in for Massa at Ferrari, left the AEK hospital with former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, but did not talk to reporters. He later posted a message about the visit on his personal website.

"Good that I finally made it to see Felipe, I feel better now," Schumacher wrote. "I am surprised at his extreme positive condition, as the accident was only one week ago. We sat together for around three hours and were chatting with each other."

"I really feel [relieved] now," Schumacher said.

The seven-time world champion, who retired in 2006, used a 2007 version of the Ferrari F1 car to test drive at an Italian track on Friday.

"I have to say that today I feel muscles I was not even aware anymore they exist," Schumacher said. "But then it was clear that you cannot test for a day after such a lot of time without feeling anything, and I am curious to see what will happen in the coming days."

Massa's family doctor Dino Altman ((pictured, thanks Balazs Mohai/EPA/Guardian)) said Saturday that the Brazilian was "doing well" and was "anxious to go home."

According to Altman, Massa will fly home to Sao Paulo in a private jet on Monday to continue his recovery.

Massa said Thursday that he was thinking about racing again, but Altman said he did not know how soon the runner-up behind Lewis Hamilton in the 2008 Formula One championship could return to the track.

"There's no hurry to bring him back to drive," Altman said. "The most important [thing] is to have him fully recovered, in a safe situation."

Massa underwent surgery on multiple skull fractures after he was hit in the helmet by a loose part from another car and crashed into a protective tire barrier during qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix last Saturday.

Paul Chapman has the update from Hungary, thanks to our friends at Reuters...

Schumi Takes Some Laps In Test Car

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Michael Schumacher was back in the cockpit of a Formula One car on Friday -- and it felt good.

The seven-time F1 champion borrowed an old Ferrari to test his form ahead of a comeback to F1 as substitute driver for the injured Felipe Massa.

"A great feeling to be back in an F1 car," Schumacher said after testing it on the Mugello circuit. "After a few laps, I was able to drive constant times and I am quite happy with the time I did."

The 40-year-old German organized the test to check his physical condition and drove a privately-owned Ferrari model used in the 2007 season, company spokesman Luca Colajanni said.

Schumacher could not drive the current Ferrari car due to F1's ban on in-season testing.

"Although those cars are not current or last year's ones, I simply like to drive as much as possible, so this is a good option," he wrote on his website. "Now, we will have to see how my body and my muscles will react to that day in the next days."

He said that on Thursday he had been at Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello to run tests in a simulator.

Schumacher, who retired in 2006, was back behind the wheel just two days after Ferrari announced the seven-time F1 champion would replace Massa until his return, starting with the European Grand Prix on Aug. 23, in Valencia, Spain.

The 28-year-old Massa underwent surgery on multiple skull fractures after he was hit in the helmet by a loose part from another car and crashed into a protective tire barrier during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix last Saturday.

Massa is expected to return home to Brazil on Monday.

Thanks to our friends at RTL for the footgage.
Unless you know German, it just video of him on the track and the post-lap reax...

Schumi Returns For Massa's Seat

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Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher ((pictured, thanks Clive Rose/Getty Images)) is making a comeback for Ferrari to replace injured driver Felipe Massa.

Ferrari said Wednesday in a statement that the German had agreed to get back in the cockpit until Massa is fit to return. The next race is the European Grand Prix on Aug. 21-23 in Valencia, Spain.

"Though it is true that the Formula One chapter has long been closed for me, it is also true that for team loyalty reasons I cannot ignore that unfortunate situation," the 40-year-old Schumacher said. "But as the competitor I am, I also very much look forward to facing this challenge."

The 28-year-old Massa was hit in the helmet by a loose part from another car and crashed into a protective tire barrier at 190 kilometres per hour during qualifying Saturday at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Brazilian receieved multiple skull fractures in the accident and doctors say he will not race again this season.

Massa took his first steps since the crash on Wednesday and was later scheduled to leave the intensive care unit of the AEK hospital in Budapest. He also received a visit from Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo.

Ferrari said Schumacher will undergo a special training program in the coming days to determine whether he will be able to drive in Valencia. There are six races left in the season after the European GP.

"Thanks God, all news concerning Felipe is positive. I wish him all the best again," Schumacher wrote on his Web site.

Schumacher, who had 91 wins in 250 F1 races starts, still acts as a consultant for Ferrari. Since retiring in October 2006, Schumacher has raced occasionally in a motorcycling series but was injured in a crash in February.

Schumacher won his first two F1 titles with the Benetton team. He joined Ferrari in 1996 and won five straight from 2000-04.

Here's Schumi's last laps at the Brazil GP in 2006...
((HT: Speed/F1))