F1 driver Massa 'could leave hospital in a week'

Brazilian Grand Prix driver Felipe Massa suffered no eye injuries in his crash and could leave hospital within a week or ten days, his doctors estimated Tuesday.

"If his condition continues to improve at this rate, he should be able to leave hospital within seven to ten days on his own," said Peter Bazso, director of Budapest's AEK hospital where the Ferrari driver was brought after his crash on Saturday.

Dino Altman, Massa's personal doctor, meanwhile told journalists outside the hospital: "The eyes were not injured and he could speak in three languages."

He also noted that Massa had good orientation and knew his left and his right.

The Brazilian driver should be able to return home within a week, Altman added.

Stefano Domenicali, team principal of Ferrari's Formula One team, said after visiting Massa in hospital that the driver had recognised him and that the two had spoken in Italian.

"He can't remember quite well what happened," he added, insisting that there were no plans to replace Massa in the team.

Bazso warned however against high expectations, noting that Massa had suffered a serious crash and that his condition could still worsen.

The 28-year-old suffered severe injuries when he was hit on the head at around 275 kph by a spring that broke loose from compatriot Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix Saturday.

He was airlifted to the AEK hospital and underwent surgery for skull damage immediately.

On Monday, neurosurgeon Robert Veres had said the racer's eyes might have been damaged in the crash, but that it was unclear to what extent.