13 Oct 2009

Massa feels like his old self in a formula one car

5:57 am on 13 October 2009

The Brazilian driver Felipe Massa has been behind the wheel of a formula one car for the first time since his life-threatening accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix, and he says what happened in July hasn't changed anything.

Massa says his session in a Ferrari near the team's headquarters in Italy went very well until rain intervened, and he felt just like his old self.

Last week Massa, who fractured his skull during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, said he had slight hopes of racing in the season-ending Abu Dhabi grand prix on the 1st of November, but Ferrari have since made it clear he won't be making his competitive return to formula one until next season.