Felipe Massa has talked for the first time about the horror accident that almost claimed his life.

The Ferrari driver was left in a coma in July when a flying spring smashed into his head during practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Massa, talking to the Guardian, admits his injuries could have been much worse.

“You need to think about luck in different ways. I was actually very unlucky with the spring in my face. But I was very lucky as well. Every doctor said the same.

“If the spring had gone one millimetre to the right I would have lost my sight. One millimetre to the left and who knows? I could have been brain damaged. So I was very lucky. And this is more important because it is my life.”

Massa says what happened at the Hungaroring hasn’t dimmed his passion for the sport, or given him any doubts about wanting to get back behind the wheel.

He said: “For me, the worst thing that happened was not being able to race. If you can’t drive that’s terrible.

“But my wife has already asked me, at least 10 times, ‘Are you sure you don’t feel any doubts or worries?’ Always, I say, ‘No - because this is what I like to do.’ If I don’t drive then I am not the same person.

“Ever since I was a small boy this is my life. This is what I like to do. So I really hope, and expect, nothing will change inside of me when I go back into the car and start pushing myself to the maximum again.”

The images of Massa’s accident disturbed many, but they didn’t have a massive impact on the driver himself

“I first saw it when I got home on television - just like you. But I had other accidents that disturbed me a lot more.

“When I lost the brakes in Monaco in 2002 it was a huge crash. And I crashed twice in Barcelona because I had a problem with my suspension - and that was an accident that made me think.

“But this accident in Hungary is like something I never even saw. So my wife was only asking gentle questions, like, ‘You don’t think maybe … ?’ And I say, ‘No, I am racing again.’

“My mother also knows me a lot. Sometimes she is looking at me and thinking but she knows not to ask.”