( CNN ) -- Felipe Massa has revealed that he hopes to be at his home Brazilian Grand Prix -- but he wo n't be behind the wheel of his Ferrari . Felipe Massa has been given the all-clear to begin training as he bids to return to the race track . The 28-year-old had aimed to be able to return to racing before the end of this Formula One season , but is resigned to getting fit for 2010 following his horrific crash in July . Massa is now able to begin his rehabilitation after having plastic surgery on Monday to repair the broken bone in his cranium that resulted when a loose spring from Rubens Barrichello 's Brawn hit him in the helmet during qualifying in Hungary . The operation , at the Sao Paulo 's Albert Einstein hospital , took around four and a half hours , Ferrari revealed on its official Web site . Massa told UK newspaper The Guardian that his next step was to head to Europe to use a simulator and drive go-karts as part of his fitness evaluation . He had hoped to return to action at Interlagos -- where his 2008 world championship dream was crushed by Lewis Hamilton despite winning the race -- on October 18 , but said that he would only be there as a spectator . `` That was the race I wanted to come back in , but it 's difficult to say if it would 've been possible . It will be difficult to watch it , but I will be there , '' Massa said . He told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that he still held a slim hope of driving in the final race of this season in Abu Dhabi on November 1 . `` In 2010 I 'll be back for sure and 100 % , but it would be a dream to drive in Abu Dhabi , '' Massa said . Massa will be replaced by Giancarlo Fisichella for the final five races of 2009 , with the veteran Italian having been released from his contract by Force India to take over from test driver Luca Badoer . He said he had never doubted that he would that he would get behind the wheel of a Formula One car again . `` It is my life , '' Massa , who is expecting his first child in November , told The Guardian . `` For me , the worst thing that happened was not being able to race . If you ca n't drive that 's terrible . `` But my wife has already asked me , at least 10 times , 'Are you sure you do n't feel any doubts or worries ? ' `` Always , I say , 'No , because this is what I like to do . ' If I do n'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 me when I go back into the car and start pushing myself to the maximum again . ''
Formula One driver Felipe Massa has had successful plastic surgery on his skull . The Brazilian driver plans to race his home grand prix in mid - October . Massa suffered horrific head injuries after a freak accident in Hungary in July . Ferrari have brought in Force India 's Giancarlo Fisichella to replace him .