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Ferrari's Felipe Massa will leave intensive care on Wednesday after taking his first steps since he fractured his skull in a crash at last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, the Formula One team said.
The champions said on their website that the Brazilian's condition is improving steadily in Budapest's AEK military hospital.
"The driver has had more exams carried out, confirming his continuing improvement," the team said. "Felipe speaks, can sit upright and was even able to take his first steps. Today he will leave intensive care."
Massa underwent emergency surgery on Saturday after being flown to the hospital in what doctors said was a life-threatening condition.
The 28-year-old was hit on the helmet during qualifying by a metal spring, the size of a Coke can and weighing almost a kilo, that fell off compatriot Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car and bounced down the track.
"From the clinical and radiological point of view everything is going extremely well," said Ferrari. "Felipe will stay at the AEK hospital for the next few days, until he can be taken somewhere else."
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who went to Massa's bedside on Monday when the Brazilian was under sedation, is flying back to Budapest to greet him.
