FLASH
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The life of Michael Schumacher, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, remains shrouded in absolute mystery following his 2013 skiing accident in the French Alps.
Richard Hopkins, a close friend and member of the Formula 1 community, spoke to SPORTbible about Schumacher's current condition and the strict privacy his family maintains. "I don't think we'll ever see Michael again. I feel a little embarrassed to talk about his condition because for good reasons the family wants to keep it private," he said.
The accident occurred just a year after his retirement from racing and caused severe brain damage, leaving him in an induced coma for several months. Since then, the former driver has been under the care of his wife Corina and a medical team, with no exact information about his health other than the fact that his rehabilitation continues in Switzerland and at his home in Mallorca. Hopkins explained: "I haven't heard anything recently. I understand he has a Finnish doctor, a personal doctor."
The circle of people who can visit Schumacher is extremely small. Hopkins stressed the lack of access to direct information about the former driver. "I can make a comment or express an opinion, but I'm not in the inner circle. I'm not Jean Todt, I'm not Ross Brawn, I'm not Gerhard Berger, who visits Michael. I'm very far from that." When asked if he had been in contact with anyone who had seen Schumacher after the accident, the former McLaren engineer was categorical: "I can't say that I'm close to Jean Todt, or Ross, or Gerhard. Even if you were, I don't think I would tell you."
Hopkins sees the secrecy as a sign of respect for the family. "There's a respect among those who visit Michael not to share anything. That's what the family wants. I think it's fair and respectful of the family. Even if I knew something, the family would be disappointed if I revealed it," he said in an interview with SPORTbible.
The secrecy surrounding Schumacher has been reinforced by recent court cases. Earlier this year, three people were convicted of attempting to blackmail the Schumacher family by threatening to release medical images, videos and personal files, demanding £12m. The family, unhappy with the sentences, announced their decision to appeal.
The former Red Bull chief operating officer also spoke about the German's sporting heritage and competitive nature.
"Formula 1 drivers are complex but confident individuals. They have come to Formula 1 because they believe in their abilities and they take strength from that, and from everyone telling them how good they are. Michael probably took more strength from the others. That definitely fed his confidence," he explained.
He added that with each success, Schumacher's confidence grew, which translated into even greater performances on the track.
In his personal life, Schumacher was different. "You might think he was a difficult person in his private life, but he wasn't. He was definitely a wonderful father and husband," Hopkins revealed in an interview with The Sun newspaper.
Schumacher's legacy remains unshakable in the memory of motorsport, with 91 Grand Prix victories, 68 pole positions and 77 fastest laps.
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