Ferrari driver Felipe Massa will leave intensive care at the AEK hospital in Hungary today as his remarkable recovery continues apace following Saturday's qualifying accident at the Hungaroring. Having been in a medically-induced coma from the time of his accident until Monday afternoon, the Brazilian is now speaking, sitting upright and even taking his first steps.

Although doctors were initially fearful about damage to his left eye, after opening the eye recently it appears that little or no injury has been sustained ,despite being hit close to his eye on the helmet by a spring from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix at the weekend.

In a statement, Ferrari said: “from the clinical and radiological point of view everything is going extremely well”. Felipe will remain at the AEK military hospital for the next few days, until he can be taken elsewhere.

After receiving a visit from team principal Stefano Domenicali yesterday, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo will fly to Budapest this afternoon to meet with the Brazilian again. Di Montezemolo was with him on Monday, and Massa's family continue to stay with him at the hospital.