Felipe Massa leaves hospital in Hungary

Ferrari's Felipe Massa has left hospital in Hungary and is returning home to Brazil.

The Brazilian has made a swift recovery from life-saving surgery required after the accident during qualifying for the event last Saturday when Massa was struck by a suspension spring which had worked its way off Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP, resulting in the Brazilian crashing his Ferrari into a tyre barrier.

After the operation, Massa spent two days in a medically-induced coma, but has improved rapidly since waking earlier this week.

He plans to return home to Sao Paulo tomorrow (Mon) and told the News of the World: "I know I'm lucky to be alive - I don't remember anything about the accident but I will race again."

He added: "When I woke up I didn't know why I was in hospital, so I was asking 'why am I here?'.

"I was pulling all the tubes and Eduardo, my brother, tried to stop me – so we had a fight. The accident was so unlucky but I know I'm lucky to be alive. I don't remember anything of what happened.

"It was my race, so when I awoke from the coma I couldn't believe it when they told me Lewis (Hamilton) had won and Kimi (Raikkonen) was second."

Seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher visited Massa in hospital and said: "It's good I finally made it to see Felipe – I feel better now. I'm surprised at his condition as the accident was only a week ago. We chatted for three hours and I feel really relieved now."

The 40-year-old German, who will deputise for Ferrari in the absence of Massa, has wasted little time in getting behind the wheel again. With in-season testing banned, Schumacher is not allowed to drive the current Ferrari, but has been practising in an older car.

He added: "I have to say I'm feeling muscles I was not even aware existed any more – but you cannot test for a day after such a lot of time without feeling anything.

"I'm curious to see what will happen in the coming days."