FIORANO, Italy — Ferrari driver Felipe Massa took his first test drive in a Formula One car since a life-threatening accident and said Monday he’s back to the driver he was before.
The Brazilian drove a F2007 at Ferrari’s private test track.
“It went well,” Massa said. “I felt fine physically and it felt like the accident never happened.”
Massa was knocked unconscious by a loose car part in qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July and crashed into a safety barrier. He injured his left eye area and required surgery and later had a metal plate inserted.
After an initial lap to get reoriented, Massa returned to the garage briefly and then headed back out on the track.
On Saturday, Massa was cleared in medical exams with governing body FIA at a hospital in Paris.
While he has hinted several times since the accident that he would like to return for the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP on Nov. 1, Ferrari has said repeatedly that Massa won’t race again until next season.
“I didn’t have any problem with my vision and I would be prepared to race not just one but two races in a row,” Massa said, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport’s Web site. “Obviously there is a timeline that needs to be respected, but I can tell you I’m back to the same driver I was before the accident.”
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