Michael Schumacher has not been seen in public since his skiing accident in 2013, with the seven-time world champion’s health continuing to be kept a private matter
Jean Todt, the former Ferrari CEO and team principal, remains a close friend of Michael Schumacher and continues to provide updates on the German legend’s health.
The Formula 1 community was shaken over ten years ago by the news that Schumacher had suffered a serious brain injury while skiing with his son in the French Alps, leading to him being placed in a medically induced coma.
Schumacher, who clinched five of his seven F1 world titles under friend Todt’s leadership, has been out of the public eye since his devastating accident.
After the ordeal, Todt has continued to issue updates regarding Schumacher’s health, and Mirror Sport takes a look at all of the Frenchman’s heartbreaking admissions in the 12 years since the tragedy.
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“The family has decided not to answer the question (on his condition) – a choice that I respect,” Todt revealed to La Repubblica recently, offering the latest glimpse into Schumacher’s current situation.
“I see him regularly and with affection, him and his family. Our bond goes beyond the past work. It is part of my life, which today is very far from Formula 1.”
Such affection paints a very different picture to the one described during one of Todt’s initial updates, which presented a much grimmer view of the iconic driver’s state, reports the Express.
‘Still fighting’
The message in 2015, about two years post-accident, was a bleak one, and indicated that Schumacher and his family were facing a tough journey as his rehabilitation commenced.
“Michael is a close friend, his family is very close to me, and I’m very close to them as well,” Todt told reporters 10 years ago. “I see Michael very often, and Michael is still fighting, and we must keep fighting with the family.”
Yet, as the years passed, the statements made by those dear to Schumacher were made with a slight dash of positivity while the German’s rehabilitation continued.
‘I see him twice a month’
In the months and years following Todt’s comment, there were signs of improvement, and in 2021, a heartfelt revelation showed the depth of Todt’s loyalty.
“I see Michael at least twice a month,” Todt admitted to Corriere della Sera. “I don’t leave him alone. Him, Corinna, the family: we’ve had so many experiences together. The beauty of what we have experienced is part of us, and it goes on.”
This showed it was clear that the bond formed between Todt and Schumacher on the track, which turned them into a formidable team, had endured beyond the circuits, with Todt standing by the former driver’s side.
‘I watch races with Michael’
Despite the long gone days of Todt strategising from the pit wall and Schumacher racing, Todt’s poignant words to RTL in 2022 about spending time with his former colleague also highlighted the shared moments since Schumacher’s accident.
“I don’t miss Michael. I see him,” said Todt. “Yes, it’s true, I watch races with Michael. But sure, I guess what I miss is what we used to do together.”
Todt has expressed his longing for the glory days he shared with Schumacher at La Scuderia. A year after this revelation, Todt was candid when asked about his dear friend’s condition, however.
‘His life is different’
Despite his regular visits to Schumacher, Todt has often spoken about their shared experiences. In 2023, the 78-year-old succinctly described the heartbreaking situation.
“Michael is here, so I don’t miss him,” Todt told L’Equipe in 2023. “[But he] is simply not the Michael he used to be. He is different and is wonderfully guided by his wife and children who protect him.
“His life is different now, and I have the privilege of sharing moments with him. That’s all there is to say. Unfortunately, fate struck him 10 years ago. He is no longer the Michael we knew in Formula 1.”
Todt continues to visit Schumacher, and Elisabetta Gregoraci – the former partner of ex-F1 chief Flavio Briatore – has revealed that the German ‘can communicate but only through his eyes,’ suggesting that such moments will continue to be shared between them for the foreseeable future.
