Massa will be desperate to return

Felipe Massa will be desperate to get back in a Formula One car as soon as he can once he recovers from the accident that left him in a coma for two days with a fractured skull, according to former Formula One driver Johnny Herbert. The English driver, who came back from a horrific crash which broke both his legs to win three races in Formula One, believes as soon as the Ferrari driver is physically well enough he will want to drive again.

The Brazilian was struck on the crash helmet by a loose spring from a rival car during qualifying on Saturday at the Hungarian Grand Prix and is expected to be ruled out for the rest of the season. Herbert in looking back at his own experience of rehabilitation from injury, said: "In Felipe's case I would think he will take the view that he has survived the accident and as long as he is physically able to as a sportsman that all he will want to do is get back in the car as soon as possible and get back to racing."

The Brazilian has now regained conscious and according to doctors at the hospital where he is being treated he has been able to talk to his family and may be able to return home in 10 days. Meanwhile, speculation continues to grow that the seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher could come out of retirement to replace Massa at Ferrari for the next race in Valencia. The German retired from the sport at the end of the 2006 season, but won five world titles with the Italian team during a successful 11-year period with the team and has since continued working with them as a consultant.

Ferrari have not ruled out making a move to bring the German back, with team spokesman Luca Colajanni saying: "We have not spoken to him, but it is possible that this might happen. We have said before that it is possible that Michael Schumacher could return." @Email:[e-mail] More Formula One, s2-3