Massa thanked his family, the Hungarian doctors and his team, and expressed his gratitude for the huge support he received from around the world after the incident.

'I also want to thank everybody who prayed and who wrote to me via my own and Ferrari's website, hoping that everything went well. So many people wrote to me, also many who aren't interested in Formula One,' he said.

Looking at his return to Brazil, Massa said: 'Many things have happened over the last days and I want to get back to a normal life. I want to get back into the best possible condition, doing things you do every day.'

Massa said he was happy with Ferrari's choice to have the seven-time champion Schumacher replace him during his absence. Massa and Schumacher were Ferrari team-mates in the German's final season 2006.

The German visited Massa in hospital on the weekend and Massa said he did not need to give the legend any advice ahead of Schumacher's return from retirement on August 23 in Valencia, Spain.

'Michael doesn't need my advice! It was him who gave me many tips during my career when we were racing together,' said Massa.

'He knows how to win, he knows how to drive and he's great: it was the best choice handing over the car to such a fantastic person and I'm sure that everybody will be happy to see him back on the track again.'

'Although I hope I'll be back on the track with Ferrari as soon as possible,' said Massa.