BUDAPEST (AFP) — Felipe Massa returns to the Hungaroring, where he suffered a high-speed horror crash 12 months ago, determined to stage an emotional reunion with the medical staff and marshalls who saved his life.

The Brazilian's Ferrari careered off the track at last year's Hungarian Grand Prix after he was struck on his helmet by a part which flew off Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car in qualifying.

He spent over a week in a coma suffering from a skull fracture and battled to save his sight in one eye. He also missed the rest of the season.

“Going back to Budapest will be a very special weekend for me, for reasons which you can all appreciate as it was there, just over a year ago, that I was seriously injured,” said Massa.

“My first meeting when I arrive at the Hungaroring circuit will be with all the marshals and medical staff who 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.”

Massa arrives in Hungary with the controversy over last w eekend's German Grand Prix still engulfing the Ferrari team.

Massa was leading at Hockenheim when he slowed to allow teammate Fernando Alonso to pass and go on to win the race.

Ferrari denied invoking team orders but the team was fined $100,000 for breaching sporting regulations and ordered to appear before the World Motor Sport Council to explain the incident.

A resolute Alonso insists he still has a great feeling from his victory in Hockenheim.

Former double world champion Alonso commended his team for their efforts and was adamant that their one-two victory was nothing more than they deserved.

“All wins are special,” wrote Alonso on Ferrari's official website. “Winning is a great feeling and that was the case in Hockenheim, especially when I think of the huge workload undertaken by everyone at Maranello to achieve this fantastic one-two finish.”

“No one ever gave up and I know how pleased they were to see two Ferraris cross the line ahead of all our rivals. For over a month now we have been saying that we had to get back to winning at least once before the summer break and finally, we did it.”