MICHAEL Schumacher’s former pal says he fears the worst over the F1 legend’s condition.
Details surrounding the star’s health have been kept under lock and key since he suffered a near-fatal ski accident in 2013.
GettyMichael Schumacher pictured in Monza, Italy in 2005[/caption] AFPSchumacher with his wife Corinna in Madonna di Campiglio in 2003[/caption] Richard Hopkins said the F1 legend ghosted him after he shot to fameSUPPLIEDEx-Red Bull boss Richard Hopkins – who enjoyed regular coffee breaks with Schumacher in the early 1990s – said the lack of information for more than a decade stokes his fears about his condition.
Hopkins, Head of Operations at Red Bull from 2013 to 2015, met Schumacher he was a mechanic at McLaren and the F1 great was at Benetton.
He watched as Schumacher’s career skyrocketed until he retired in 2012 with a joint record seven world titles.
But the following year, Schumacher – now 56 – suffered a devastating head injury while skiing on Alpine slopes in France.
Protective wife Corinna has not revealed any details about his condition and he has not been seen in public since.
And Hopkins says the longer time goes on without an update, the more he fears about the true nature of his health.
He told The Sun: “It’s a shame and I wish we all knew a bit more. I get it and I understand it, it’s very private to them.
“But the danger of course is that we all make assumptions of how he is, and probably none of our assumptions are accurate.
“We create an assumption that is probably worse and darker than his condition probably is, and then a lot of us look on the bright side and hope it’s a lot better than it actually is.
“I saw the recent story about him signing a crash helmet, and there’s an MS on it. We’d all love to believe he got a pen out the draw and signed it but there was probably some assistance along the way.
“I wish we had a better idea, not just me, all of us in motor racing. It’s sad because even the ‘keep fighting Michael’ message has kind of been forgotten.
“But it’s life and we all move on. It’s very sad that we just don’t know and we don’t hear from him. It’s sad that he doesn’t attend races or make public appearances.
“He was an amazing guy, extraordinary character and amazingly successful.”
Close pal Flavio Briatore, who led Schumacher to his first two titles at Benetton, recently offered a heartbreaking insight into his health.
He appeared to confirm Schumacher, who joined Ferrari after Benetton where he won five titles, was bed-bound.
What do we know about Schumacher since his accident?
MICHAEL Schumacher’s life changed forever on December 29, 2013, when a skiing accident left the seven-time F1 champion with a severe brain injury.
Since then, his family has protected his privacy, with only a select few remaining in contact with the racing legend.
December 29, 2013 – The skiing accident: Schumacher suffers a life-threatening head injury while skiing off-piste in Méribel, France. He falls and hits his head on a rock, causing severe brain trauma despite wearing a helmet. He is airlifted to a hospital in Grenoble, where he undergoes two emergency surgeries. Doctors place him in a medically induced coma to reduce swelling in his brain.
January 2014 – Schumacher fights for his life: Schumacher remains in a coma. Doctors describe his condition as “critical but stable”. His family, led by wife Corinna, remains at his bedside. The world’s F1 community rallies behind him, with fans holding vigils outside the hospital.
June 2014 – Schumacher brought out of his coma: After nearly six months, Schumacher is brought out of his coma. His family confirms he is no longer in a coma but gives no further health details. He is transferred from Grenoble to a rehabilitation facility in Lausanne, Switzerland.
September 2014 – Back home: Schumacher is moved to his family home near Lake Geneva. Corinna announces he will continue his recovery at home, with a dedicated medical team.
2015–2018 – Mystery surrounding his health: Reports suggest Schumacher is receiving round-the-clock medical care at home, costing £50,000 per week. Jean Todt reveals he still visits Schumacher and that they watch F1 races together.
May 2017 – German magazine sued by Schumacher’s family: The magazine Bunte has to pay Michael Schumacher €50,000 (£42,000) in damages after claiming in 2015 that Schumacher would walk again. The Hamburg regional court determined that the statement was false and infringed upon Schumacher’s right to privacy.
September 2019 – Schumacher secretly transferred to Paris: French media reports that Schumacher is taken to Paris for stem cell therapy at the Georges-Pompidou Hospital. The procedure is led by renowned surgeon Dr. Philippe Menasché. Details of the treatment remain undisclosed.
December 2019 – Manager issues rare statement: Schumacher’s longtime manager Sabine Kehm says his condition will remain private. She dismisses speculation and false reports about his health.
September 2021 – Netflix documentary “Schumacher” released: A new Netflix documentary, Schumacher, provides rare insights into his life. Corinna speaks publicly about his condition for the first time, saying: “Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength.”
December 2023 – 10 years since the accident: Schumacher turns 55. The anniversary of his accident is marked by tributes from the F1 world. Jean Todt confirms he still sees Schumacher regularly and describes his visits as “full of affection”.
September 2024 – Daughter Gina’s wedding: Gina Schumacher, 27, marries longtime boyfriend Iain Bethke at the family’s £27million Majorca villa. Reports claim Schumacher attends the wedding, but close friend Johnny Herbert later calls it “A1 fake news”. Guests are reportedly required to hand over their phones to prevent leaks.
March 2025 – Schumacher becomes a grandfather: Daughter Gina announces arrival of first child with husband Iain Bethke. The pair tied the knot in September 2024. Gina revealed the birth on Instagram and wrote: “Welcome to the world, Millie. Born on March 29th, our hearts are fuller than ever.”
Briatore told Corriere della Sera: “If I close my eyes, I see him smiling after a victory.
“I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed.”
Hopkins said he used to bump into Corinna but hasn’t seen her, or anyone else close to him, since the crash.
He added: “I just haven’t crossed paths with them.
“The circle of people close to Michael is very small, Jean Todt, Corrina, Mick, and a few others who spend time with him.
“Everything about Michael’s situation is kept private, and those who are close to him, including his nursing team, are bound by an absolute circle of trust.
“I did meet Corinna a couple of times, if only just to say hi and everything else. My interactions with Michael weren’t shared with Corinna.
“But even if I did bump into her now, and I asked how Michael was, she would probably just say he’s fine. I didn’t know her well enough for her to share information with me.”
What happened to Michael Schumacher?
MICHAEL Schumacher’s life was hanging by a thread 12 years ago as medics tried desperately to keep him alive after a tragic skiing crash that left him with horrific brain injuries.
The F1 legend was given the best possible treatment as he was put into a medically induced coma, had his body temperature lowered and underwent hours of tricky operations on his brain.
Back in 2013, the retired seven-time world champion, and his then 14-year-old son set off on the Combe de Saulire ski run in the exclusive French resort of Meribel.
Footage from his helmet camera revealed he was not travelling at excessive speed when his skis struck a rock hidden beneath the snow.
He catapulted forward 11.5ft and crashed into a boulder head first that split his helmet into two and left him needing to be airlifted to hospital for two life-saving operations.
At one point his family were told to brace themselves for the worst case scenario as the situation was much worse than originally believed.
At the time, medics said Schumacher was likely to stay in an induced coma for at least 48 hours as his body and mind recovered.
But the coma ended up lasting 250 days – more than eight months.
After he woke up in June 2014, he was discharged from hospital and sent to his home in Lake Geneva to get further treatment.
Since then his wife Corinna and his inner circle of friends have expertly avoided almost anything leaking out about his health status.
Only small amounts of information have been released including reports that Schumacher was in a wheelchair but can react to things around him.
In 2019, it was said that Schumacher was set to undergo breakthrough stem cell therapy in a bid to regenerate and rebuild his nervous system.
Renowned France cardiologist Dr Philippe Menasche, who had operated on him previously, was set to carry out the treatment that would see cells from his heart go to his brain.
Following the treatment at the Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, he was said to be “conscious”, although few other details were given about his state.
He added: “If he could be at a race today, I wonder if he would be? I wonder if he would love it today, rocking up at a race track, everyone would love him being there.
“But I don’t think he would, actually. I think he’d spend more time on other interests, spending more time on a bloody horse than a race track now!”
Schumacher retired in 2006 but made a brief comeback for Mercedes from 2010 to 2012.
He is widely considered among the best to ever race in the sport.
Only small hints have been released about his health since the accident.
Briatore’s ex-wife, Elisabetta Gregoraci, previously said he doesn’t speak but communicates with his eyes.
Corinna has also previously said he is now “different, but here”.
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