Massa still in medically-induced coma

Felipe Massa had “a quiet night” as he continues to recover from emergency surgery to repair a skull fracture.

Massa remains in intensive care and in a medically-induced coma at the AEK military hospital in Budapest following a freak accident during qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday.

After yesterday’s race at the Hungaroring, Massa was visited by Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali, team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello and boss Ross Brawn.

It was a spring that had worked loose on Barrichello’s car that hit Massa on his helmet at 162mph, causing his injuries and subsequent crash into a tyre barrier.

Later today Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is also due to visit the 28-year-old Brazilian, who is expected to be out for at least six weeks even if he makes a full recovery.

A Ferrari spokesman today said: “Felipe had a quiet night. He is okay, and he is due to have another CT scan today.”

Doctors at the hospital were encouraged by the positive results of yesterday’s first CT scan following surgery, with the hope Massa continues to show steady improvement.

A spokesman for the Hungarian defence ministry, under whose jurisdiction the hospital is run, has been quoted as saying on local television that Massa is starting to “communicate actively.”

“He reacts when he’s spoken to. We are optimistic a slow recovery is beginning,” said Istvan Bocskai, who also confirmed Massa could move his hands and legs.