Ferrari released another update on the medical situation of Felipe Massa (above, in action at the Hungaroring at the weekend prior to his accident) last night saying that his condition since his qualifying crash on Saturday was showing signs of improvement as he remains in Budapest's AEK hospital.

Ferrari released another update on Felipe Massa's on-going medical situation last night saying that his condition since his qualifying crash on Saturday was showing signs of improvement as he remains in Budapest's AEK hospital. Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo also visited him yesterday as conflicting reports circulated in the media of his condition and speculation grows that the freak accident might end his promising racing career.

"The medic's at Budapest's AEK hospital presented a chart of Felipe Massa's condition," read the statement issued by Ferrari. All the exams done by the Hungarian medical team were negative, which is a further confirmation of the encouraging signs over the last hours. The Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver, who's no longer artificially ventilated, met his family answering to their questions. As far as his left eye is concerned the doctors confirmed that close evaluation has to be done over the next days. Felipe now sleeps without the help of sedatives with his wife, his parents, his brother and his friend and manager Nicolas Todt by his side. They will spend another night in hospital, where they will meet Stefano Domenicali tomorrow," the statement issued last night concluded.

Meanwhile the media has been speculating already as to who might stand in for Massa at the next grand prix which takes place on the streets of Valencia on August 23. A return to the cockpit for Michael Schumacher has been touted, and although unlikely, Team Principal Stefano Domenicali didn't go out of his way to rule it out. "It would be wrong to say yes or no at this stage," he told the Tagesspiegel newspaper yesterday. "We will think about it this week."

Most likely candidate is Fernando Alonso whose Renault team is presently banned for the next grand prix after being adjudged to have released the Spaniards car from its first pitstop in Hungary last Sunday in an unsafe manner. Alonso has been persistently linked in the media to a switch to Ferrari for next year. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has been quick to talk up a Ferrari appearance in Valencia for Alonso. "If Renault would release Alonso, and if Ferrari want him, it would be the best thing for Formula One, for Valencia, for everybody," he told Auto Bild yesterday. Also off the mark in talking up Alonzo appearing in the red car in Valencia was former Ferrari F1 World Champion Niki Lauda. "Alonso in the Ferrari is a great idea," he said yesterday. "At least Ferrari should try it. It would be good for the Scuderia, for Spain, for Alonso and the Formula One," the Austrian added. The Spaniard, a former double world champion, is contracted to Renault but according to Spain's AS newspaper his contract stipulates that Renault must provide him with a car at every race, and the one-race ban which the team has incurred could breach the conditions.