Zoom Massa taking things one step at a time

As he continues with his recovery programme following medical exams conducted in Paris, Felipe Massa will sit behind the wheel of an F1 car for the first time in months on Monday morning when he takes control of a two-year-old privately-owned Ferrari F2007.

Ferrari explained that the session, which will take place at the Fiorano track, is not a true test but rather an opportunity for Massa to reacquaint himself with F1 machinery by completing a few laps.

"Looking at the stopwatch will not be on the agenda," a team statement confirmed.

Ferrari again sought to quash rumours that Massa, still healing from the head wound which occurred during Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying last July, might return to race form in time for the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

"Tomorrow's event is significant but in no way does it signify a return to competition in the near future," Ferrari explained.

The medical exams in Paris were encouraging, "but not enough to endorse a return to competition in the next two months," the team pointed out.

"Therefore talk of a proper return to Formula 1 can wait until the start of the 2010 season and only at that time will the medical checks be carried out, as required by the FIA in order to allow someone who has been injured to return to racing."

Ferrari pointed out that there will be plenty of time for Massa to heal before he returns to the cockpit of a current F1 racer. That will happen this winter when he joins 2010 teammate Fernando Alonso to "begin development work of the new single-seater."

Daniel BASTIEN
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