Felipe Massa could leave hospital within ten days, doctors at the AEK hospital in Budapest have revealed. With the Brazilian's recovery continuing apace following Saturday afternoon's accident, it is possible he would even be able to leave the hospital walking. Massa was hit on the helmet by a spring from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn mid-way through qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

“My expectation is that he would walk out of the hospital on his own,” Peter Bazso, medical director at the AEK hospital, told Hungarian TV channel M1. “If his recovery continues at this pace, I wouldn't rule out that he could leave within 10 days.”

Massa was yesterday awoken from a 48-hour medically-induced coma, and was able to speak coherently to doctors, family and friends. Massa's wife, father, mother, brother and manager Nicolas Todt have remained at his bedside since Sunday, and Ferrari's team principal Stefano Domenicali is due to visit today.

But the 28-year-old is not yet out of the woods, and Bazso warned that his condition is still potentially life-threatening. “I would like to point out that although he's recovering, this is not the end of the story, he is still in a life-threatening condition,” Bazso revealed. “Of course, the danger is decreasing by the day.”