10 Jun 2010

Massa cements place at Ferrari after returning from freak accident

10:41 am on 10 June 2010

The Brazilian driver Felipe Massa cemented his return from life-threatening injuries by announcing a contract extension that will keep him at Formula One glamour team Ferrari until the end of 2012.

Massa, who has spent his F1 career in Ferrari-powered cars, started the season with a question mark over his future after he suffered serious injuries at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Brazilian was hit on the helmet by bouncing debris from compatriot Rubens Barrichello's Brawn in a freak accident in qualifying last July.

The Championship runner-up by a single point to Britain's Lewis Hamilton in 2008, Massa missed the final eight races of last season but has come back determined to show he has lost none of his pace.

He is currently seventh in the standings, 26 points behind first placed Red Bull driver Mark Webber.