After undergoing numerous tests at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Felipe Massa has been given the al-clear to begin gym work ahead of a return to the F1 cockpit in 2010.

Monday was a long day for the Brazilian, who underwent a number of tests under the supervision of Professor Stephen Olvey, head of the Jackson Memorial Hospital's Neuroscience Intensive Care unit.

The checks - neurometric and impact tests, cognitive capacity tests - all had a positive outcome, much just like the eye exam, and everything appears to be in order for Massa to eventually return to racing.

All that really remains is for some plastic surgery at the point where the spring from Rubens Barrichello's car hit the Ferrari driver just above his left eye. It is understood the surgery will take place in the next few days and after that Massa can gradually start his physical preparations.

"I'm very happy about the results," he told the official Ferrari website before boarding the plane back to Sao Paulo. "After the surgery in the next days I can finally start to go to the gym to get back into shape and drive some tests in karts.

"As for the Formula 1 single-seater? Let's take it step by step," he continued, "at the moment I'm concentrating on taking up physical activities, which is a great step forward."

Ferrari says that the results of the tests were received with "great joy and satisfaction at Maranello", however, the Italian team stresses that it is counting the Brazilian being "100% for the start of the next racing season" and not really looking at a return in 2009.