MICHAEL Schumacher hasn’t been seen or heard from for nearly nine years – and it’s feared he will never fully recover from his horror skiing accident.
Mystery continues to loom over 53-year-old The health of racing legends like his family loves tight control of which information is released to fans.
2
any fear Schumacher may never be the same after being horrible accident in December 2013 while skiing with his son Mick in the Alps.
He fell and hit his head – suffer a brain injury making him a medically induced coma for six months.
And since we released at home, there have been few concrete updates his wife Corinna to admit he is “different”.
Many of his friends have said they hope he gets better and fans are constantly urging the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver to “keep fighting”.
Brain surgeon Erich Riederer believes the seven-time world champion will never fully recover from the accident, saying he was likely left in a “vegetative state”.
In September 2020, the doctor – who is not directly connected to Schuey – gave his opinion on the French television channel TMC.
“I think he’s in a vegetative state, meaning he’s awake but unresponsive,” he said.
“He’s breathing, his heart is beating, he can probably sit up and take small steps with help, but that’s all.
‘I think that’s the maximum for him. Is there a chance to see him as he was before his accident?
“I really don’t think so.”
Meanwhile, in September 2017, former F1 driver Philippe Streiff also warned that Schuey may never be the same again.
Streiff – who was paralyzed after crashing during pre-season testing in 1989 – said it would be “difficult” for Schumacher.
“After a neurological accident you always have hope. But after more than three years it is probably more difficult,” he said. The daily star.
“[I think] 100% recovering probably not, but either way I hope he returns to the public eye for his fans.”
Schumacher’s management has previously hit back at Streiff, flatly denying knowing anything about Michael’s condition.
KEEP FIGHTING
But the former AGS driver insisted he was merely giving the “opinion” of someone who had also suffered a life-changing injury.
And one of Michael’s closest confidants, ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt, described the ace as alive with the “consequences” of his 2021 accident.
Todt is seen as one of the few people who regularly visits Schumacher.
But unlike some doubters, he has never given up hope that Michael can one day recover and see his fans.
Todt spoke last month about how he still enjoys watching Grand Prixs with Michael at his home.
The Champion’s Son Mick is now racing in sport with the Haas teamwith the 23-year-old never commenting on his father’s health but saying he would “give up everything” to talk to him about F1.
Todt and Schumacher have been friends for years, with the 76-year-old Frenchman a key part of the Ferrari team that saw the German win five world titles from 2000 to 2004.
2
And he was reportedly a regular visitor to the Ferrari and Mercedes racer’s bedside after his skiing accident, with F1 champion Niki Lauda describing the pair as a “deep and respectful friendship”.
“I don’t miss Michael, I see him. Yes, it’s true, I watch races with Michael,” Todt told the German TV channel RTL.
“But of course, I think what I miss is what we used to do together.”
The ex-FIA president previously spoke of how he “hopes the world” will be able to see his dear friend again.
Schumacher’s close F1 friend Felipe Massa gave a brief insight into his friend’s condition in 2020.
He said: “I know how he is, I have information. Most importantly of all, we know that his situation is not an easy one.
“He is in a difficult phase, but we have to respect him and the family.”
Cryptic comments from Schumacher’s former Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo in February 2016 sparked further speculation about the racer’s condition.
He told reporters: “I have news and unfortunately it is not good. Life is strange.”
And in a promising comment, controversial F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone hinted that Michael could once again be out in the open.
He said: “He is not with us at the moment. But when he gets better, he will answer all the questions.”
Michael is one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time and dominated the sport in the early 2000s after rising to power in the 1990s.
He raced from 1991 to 2006 and again from 2010 to 2012 – a second act in his career in which he was instrumental in building Lewis Hamilton’s dominant Mercedes team.
The German won five world championships with Ferrari and two for Benetton.
Schumacher retired in 2012, but just a year later he was involved in the life-changing skiing accident.