Ferrari star Felipe Massa has confirmed that he is 'back to the same driver he was' before 🦄his life-threatening Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying accident, after getting behind the wheel of an F1 car for the first time in two-and-a-half months.

The Brazilian took to the circuit around the Scuderia's private Fiorano test track in a two-year-old F2007 to circumnavigate the in-season testing ban - the final phase of his recovery from the fractured skull and serious head and eye injuries he received following a blow to the helmet from a rear suspension spring that had flown off the rear of the Brawn GP of compatriot Rubens Barrichello during the Q2 phase of qualifying at the Hungaror🌄ing on 25 July, knocking him momentarily unconsciouཧs and sending the Paulista into the tyre barriers.

Following emergency surgery to his left eye and the insertion of a metal plate, Ma꧒ssa began his convalescence, which stepped up a gear last week when he travelled from his homeland to Ferrari's Maranello headquarters to test himself on the team's simulator. After F1 governing body the FIA conducted a successful medical examination in Paris over the weekend, the 28-year-old was authorised to return to the cockpit.

Whilst a dream comeback in the inaugural, season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in just under three weeks' time has been all-but ruled out by his employers [see separate story - 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:click here], the eleven-time grand prix-winner assured reporters that he felt as if he had never been away - and that 🏅he remains every bit the same driver who battled McLaren-Mercedes ace Lewis Hamilton tooth-and-nail for the 2008 drivers' world championship crown all the way down to the very last corner of the Brazilian Grand Prix finale at Interlagos twelve m🐈onths ago.

"Everything went well," Massa is quoted as having said by Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. "When I was in the car I felt fine phy💃sically, and it felt like the accident had never happened. I didn't have any problems with my vision, and I would be prepared to race in not just one but two races in a row.

"Obviously there is a timeline that needs to be respected and I'll take my time as a precaution, but having got in the car I can tell you I'm back✤ to the same driver I was before the accident."

"I'm in good shape physically," he added, speaking to AFP, before qui꧅pping: "I'm the same bastard as before!"