It's a shame as F1 fans worldwide were looking forward to seeing him in the cockpit again, and particularly seeing how he fares against the current crop of championship leaders, not to mention Kimi in the sister Ferrari. It must be disappointing in particular for Lewis Hamilton, who thought his long-held ambition of racing against the German was to be fulfilled.
So will it be Mark Gene or Luca Badoer sitting in for the the injured Massa in the next race - or will Ferrari continue to shun their official test and reserve drivers?