Burti advised to return when '100 per cent'.

Contrary to recent reports, Luciano Burti could be back racing this season, after his doctor claimed to have been misinterpreted in interviews.

The Brazilian, who crashed heavily during the Belgian Grand Prix, is still residing in hospital in Liege, and has been advised to do so until he is completely recovered. Doctors are expected to update his discharge date within the next 24 hours, although the Prost driver could be ready to leave in the next few days.

Dr Gary Hartstein, who has been treating Burti since he was airlifted to the hospital on 2 September, claims that his statement to the BBC last week was misread by other sections of the media, which believed that he had advised his charge not to race again this year.

"I have read on some internet sites that Burti will not come back this season," he said in an official statement published on the driver's website [www.lucianoburti.com], "I hope that he doesn't read that, because he could get really angry with me!

"These were rumours that came wrongly based on an interview I gave to the BBC, where I really said that my advice to Luciano was 'to stay as long as you can, resting, until your body shows that it is 100 per cent again, as it was before the accident - and then you can go racing again the next day! But, if your body and your mind does not tell you this, I would suggest you stay at home, because the worst thing you can do as a driver is anticipate too early your return after an accident like that.'

"That is why I know he must be thinking twice before running at Monza, for example.

"I think that Burti will be prepared to leave already on Tuesday, at least physically and clinically. But, if he and his family prefer to stay a little longer, it is their decision that really counts. I am here just to give a medical opinion and, to me, he looks good enough to go back at home already next Tuesday, the 11th."

No replacement has yet been announced for the Brazilian at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, although the Prost tea's decision is expected to rest between Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer and multiple F3000 race winner Tomas Enge, who tested with the team last week. Stephane Sarrazin and Mark Webber appear to be out of the frame.