Massa leaves hospital in Hungary, on his way home

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-03 16:10

BUDAPEST, Hungary: Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is on his way home to Brazil, nine days after suffering a life-threatening crash during qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Massa leaves hospital in Hungary, on his way home

Luis Antonio Massa, father of injured Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa, Dino Altmann, Massa's personal physician and Peter Bazso, (L-R) director of the Honved hospital, speak to the media at Budapest's AEK hospital August 2, 2009. [Agencies]

Hungary's defense ministry, which oversees the AEK military hospital where Massa was being treated, confirmed his departure on Monday.

Massa is expected to arrive in Sao Paulo on Monday evening, accompanied on a private jet by his wife Raffaela, who six months pregnant with their first child, and family doctor Dino Altman.

"Thank God, I'm feeling very well," Massa said Sunday in a statement. "I only have a bit of swelling in the region of my left eye. I'm anxious to return to Brazil and continue the recovery process."

Massa will be transported in a helicopter from Sao Paulo airport to a local hospital, where he is expected to undergo further tests and is likely to stay for about two days before being allowed to return to his home.

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 on August 25.

He will be replaced at Ferrari by seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who visited Massa on Saturday at his Budapest hospital.