London, Jul 29: Ferrari ace driver Felipe Massa, who returns to Hungary this weekend for the first time since his horror accident, has said that past memories of the clash doesn’t scare him.
The Brazilian needed life-saving surgery after his skull was fractured by a 2lb metal spring that pierced his helmet.
Massa spent more than a week at the AEK Hospital in Budapest while his wife and parents flew in from Sao Paulo to keep vigil by his bedside.
“I am not worried about going back to Hungary. I was never afraid to get back in an F1 car. I wanted to do as quickly as possible. It was a very difficult time - but somebody was saying that I still need to be here, so I''m here, very happy and working, still doing my job,” The Sun quoted Massa, as saying.
“So let’s go back to Hungary and let’s try to achieve a good result there. The accident made me value life much more than before. I appreciate the ordinary things in life 10 times more. It has put life and my health in perspective, not taking anything for granted.
“Not just for me, but also for life in general and what it means to everyone. I feel I am much more mature as a human being. On the professional front, nothing has changed because once you shut the visor and go out on the race track, you just do everything as before, without thinking of the accident,” he said.
Massa was knocked unconscious by the spring that flew off another car and he ploughed into a tyre barrier.
Massa said: “My first meeting when I arrive at the circuit will be with all the marshals and medical staff. They did such a very good job of carefully getting me out of the cockpit. I want to thank these people, with whom I now feel a special bond.”