Michael Schumacher is currently in the spotlight amid reports saying the F1 icon attended his daughter’s wedding over the weekend.
This December will mark 11 years since the German tragically sustained life-changing injuries following a skiing accident in the French Alps.
Schumacher is one of the best F1 drivers of all time. He won seven crowns during his time in the sport, a feat only Lewis Hamilton has only been able to emulate.
Tragedy struck in 2013 when, on a family holiday, the Formula One icon veered off course and hit his head on a rock.
Schumacher suffered life-changing injuries as a result and now lives a life away from the spotlight, with his family forming a ‘ring of steel’ around him.
“Private is private,” said his wife, Corinna, in a Netflix documentary back in 2021.
“Michael always protected us, now we are protecting Michael.”
With Schumacher reportedly attending the wedding of his daughter, Gina-Maria, over the weekend that has led to optimism from fans that they might, just might, see him again.
It would be wrong to jump to any conclusions like that, however.
While Schumacher attended the ceremony over the weekend, guests were asked to hand in their mobile phones. That way, no images of the 55-year-old today could leak out.
Certainly, it’s encouraging that Schumacher was able to spend some time with his wider family – many of which haven’t seen him in over a decade.
But the decision to ban mobile phones suggests the family still wants to keep his condition under wraps. Understandably, they’re placing his interests first.
Not much is known about the Schumacher of today. He is believed to be flown between Switzerland and Spain as he continues to recover and as new breakthroughs are sought.
Just a handful of people are allowed to see him. One of those is Jean Todt who, speaking last year, said Schumacher’s life was ‘different now’.
Todt said: “Michael is here, so I don’t miss him.
“[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 ten years ago. He is no longer the Michael we knew in Formula 1.”
Close friend Roger Benoit also discussed Schumacher in 2023. He sadly said his old pal was a ‘case without hope’.
When asked to provide an update, he said: “There is only one answer to this question and that is what his son Mick gave in one of his rare interviews in 2022: ‘I would give anything to talk to dad’.
