Felipe Massa will possibly leave hospital earlier than first anticipated, according to his personal doctor, who says that the injured Brazilian driver is improving well enough to be discharged before the ten day timeframe given earlier.
Dino Altman, Massa's personal doctor, said that further tests have shown that the edema (a water buildup under the skin apparently) is disappearing, and is condition is continuing to improve.
"The edema involved only a tiny part of the brain. There's nothing to worry about, and no further operations are forecast. No permanent damage," Altman bragged.
He continued: "He speaks normally, very well and more than before. He remembers everything starting from Saturday, except for the crash of which he can't remember anything. He knows what day is today, and he also knows that for two or three days he wasn't conscious.
"The way things are going, he will be able to leave even before ten days have gone by."
Massa, who was hospitalised after being struck by debris during last weekend's Hungarian GP qualifying session, took his first steps since the accident yesterday, and he has now left the intensive care unit of the AEK hospital in Budapest.
According to Altman, Massa has asked who won the Grand Prix that he missed, and retains a memory of his qualifying position prior to the crash, even though he can't remember the accident. He is also apparently thinking about when he can get back into the cockpit.
"Felipe continues to improve. He is eating, he was walking around the room, he took a shower in the morning, like a normal person. So that's good news," Altman added, confirming that: "No problem with his eyes, as I've told you before, it's okay."
He refused to give any specific timetable for Massa's return, but said that he was convinced the Brazilian, who will be replaced by Michael Schumacher until he is ready to return, would race in F1 again.
"It's the only thing he is thinking about, it's his fixed idea. He has no fears at all," Altman said. "He thinks he would be able to race in Valencia."
Massa's reaction to the news that Schumacher has taken his place was allegedly: "We have to see if I will let him drive!"
"He was joking with his friends and his brother," Altman continued, revealing an almost-boring level of information about Felipe's afternoon, "He was telling us that he heard about the Schumacher news, and he told us: 'Let's see if I let him drive the car, because I won't give up.'"
He also said that: "He is eating normal food. He ate chicken, today in the morning he had a normal breakfast, some yogurt with nutritional complements, bread, cheese, tomato, and he also had a banana."
Details on Massa's bowel movements, colour of socks and various other things will likely be revealed tomorrow.
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