Schumacher visits Massa in hospital

The seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher visited the injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa in hospital today. The German driver had announced on Thursday that he would replace his friend Massa in the Ferrari team for the European Grand Prix race in Valencia, Spain, on August 23, and possibly for the rest of the season. He left hospital without speaking to journalists. Meanwhile, Massa's personal physician Dino Altman said Massa's condition was continuing to improve.

"He is recovering well, he was walking in the corridors last night ... everything is going in the right direction," Mr Altman told said. "He is anxious to go home which shows that he is feeling well," he added. "We think he will be able to fly home on Monday," the Brazilian doctor said, without specifying when the driver would be discharged. Massa was badly injured when he was hit at about 250 kph by a spring that flew off compatriot Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday.

The 28-year-old underwent surgery on his fractured skull. He was taken out of intensive care on Wednesday. *AFP