Tragic Michael Schumacher update issued by friend after talks with his wife

Wales Online

04-06-2025

Tragic Michael Schumacher update issued by friend after talks with his wife
The Formula One legend suffered life-changing injuries in a skiing accident in 2013
Schumacher requires round the clock care after his life-changing accident
Michael Schumacher's former Formula One boss has given a heartbreaking new insight into the racing legend's condition, nearly 12 years on from the skiing accident that changed his life forever.
The F1 legend was seriously injured after hitting his head on a rock while skiing in the French Alps in December 2013 and he was left in a medically induced coma for several months. He returned home to Lake Geneva the following year but still requires round-the-clock medical care from a team of staff and his wife Corinna.
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Schumacher's privacy has been fiercely protected by Corinna since the accident, with only a small circle of trusted family members and friends allowed to visit him and know the intimate details of his condition.
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It was widely reported last year that the German star had made his first public appearance in more than a year by attending his daughter Gina-Marie's wedding at the family's villa in Majorca, with guests reportedly required to leave their mobile phones at the door to prevent any unauthorised photos of Schumacher being taken.
Now, former Benetton chief Flavio Briatore, who formed a close bond with Schumacher when the legendary driver won his first two titles back-to-back for the team, has given a new insight into his friend's condition.
Appearing to confirm that Schumacher is bed-bound, Briatore said he preferred to remember the happy memories he has with the 56-year-old, rather than the condition he is now in.
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'"If I close my eyes, I see him smiling after a victory," he told Corriere della Sera.
"I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed. Corinna and I talk often, though.'
Briatore's update comes after leading F1 reporter Felix Gorner, who is close to Schumacher's family, revealed the seven-time world champion can no longer communicate verbally.
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"The situation is very sad," he said in March. "He needs constant care and is completely dependent on his caregivers. And he can no longer express himself verbally.
"Currently, there's a maximum of 20 people who can approach Michael. And, in my opinion, it's the right strategy. Because the family is acting in Michael's best interests. They've always strictly protected his privacy, and that hasn't changed."
During a 2021 Netflix documentary about Schumacher's life, his son Mick said he and his father "understand each other now in a different way," while Corinna said that her husband was "different, but here".
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There were positive signs in April when Schumacher signed a special helmet worn by Sir Jackie Stewart, which was auctioned off for charity.
Johnny Herbert, who was Schumacher's teammate at Benetton in the 1990s, said the signature was an 'emotional' moment and hoped that it was a sign that the legendary driver was "on the mend".
'It's wonderful news that Michael Schumacher signed Jackie Stewart's helmet," Herbert told FastSlots.
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"It was a wonderful moment. We haven't seen something emotional like this in years, and hopefully, it's a sign."