Burti to stay in hospital overnight

Burti careered off at around 170mph after tangling with Eddie Irvine's Jaguar at Blanchimont, one of the fastest parts of the circuit. And his head was trapped on one side of the cockpit by tyres from the crash barrier he had hit.

Some unconfirmed reports say he has also suffered severe bruising around his eyes and can talk but with a little difficulty. Burti was treated at the circuit medical centre and then airlifted to the University Hospital at Liege for further treatment and a brain scan.

"The scan showed bruising on two locations on the head but no swelling," an official at the circuit said. "He will be closely monitored and tomorrow there will be another scan."

Despite this, Burti's close friend and compatriot Rubens Barrichello said the Prost driver was alert enough to be displeased with Irvine and the part his former team mate played in the crash.

"He was well enough to be furious with Irvine after the accident," said Barrichello. "He said he wished he was well enough to leave hospital so he could thump Irvine."