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      Gil de Ferran dead at 56: Indianapolis 500 winner dies while racing with son at The Concourse Club in Florida

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      RACING legend Gil de Ferran has died at the age of 56, said multiple colleagues.The 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner died on Friday while racing with his son, Luke, at The Concourse Club in Opa-Locka, Florida.
      Gil de Ferran has died at the age of 56 while racing with his sonCredit: AP:Associated Press
      The 2003 Indy 500 winner reportedly suffered a heart attackCredit: AP:Associated Press
      De Ferran is survived by his wife and their two childrenCredit: Instagram/annadeferran
      The two were on a private course at the club when de Ferran pulled over and said he wasn’t feeling well.
      Fellow driver Tony Kanaan said de Ferran suffered a heart attack and couldn’t be revived.
      “We are terribly saddened to hear about the tragic loss of Gil de Ferran,” said Roger Penske, the owner of Team Penske and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Angela, Anna, Luke, and the entire de Ferran family.”
      De Ferran won the Indy 500 for Team Penske, making it the third consecutive win in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” for Penske.

      “Gil defined class as a driver and a gentleman. As an IndyCar Champion and an Indianapolis 500 winner, Gil accomplished so much during his career.
      “He was beloved by so many and he was a great friend to the Team Penske family and to the entire international motorsports community. It’s a tragic loss and he will be deeply missed.”
      Kanaan told The Associated Press that he was “devastated” over de Ferran’s death.
      “He was one of my best friends and we grew up together and lately and we worked together at McLaren,” he told the outlet.
      Most read in Motorsport
      “In the beginning of this year, he was a mentor, helping me out. I lost a dear friend. I am devastated. I have to say, he went in Gil style, driving a racecar. If I could choose a way to go, that’s what I could do.”
      Marco Andretti called de Ferran “One of the real ones.”
      “One of the reasons for my F1 tests. Loved your passion and love for our sport, Thank you for what you contributed to my life,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
      De Ferran was born on November 11, 1967, in Paris, France, and began his career in kart racing in the early 1980s.
      He won the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car titles driving for Penske along with the 2003 Indy 500 with Penske.
      De Ferran was also the runner-up in LMP1 class of the American le Mans Series in 2009 driving for his self-owned de Ferran Motorsports.
      He sent the closed-course land speed record during CART with a lap of 241.428 mph at the California Speedway in 2000 – the feat still stands today.
      He has won seven CART races and five IndyCar races, finishing second in the 2003 standings.
      De Ferran joined Team Penske in 2000.
      Fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi inspired de Ferran to start his career in karting before going into the European ladder system.
      Read more on The Sun
      He lost the British Formula Three title to Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard in 1991 but would win the title the next season.
      He is survived by his wife, Angela, and their two children Ana and Luke.
      De Ferran started his career in the 1980s with cart racingCredit: Getty
      He joined Team Penske in 2000Credit: Getty More

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      I am praying for Michael Schumacher after visiting him following his ski crash, says his best F1 pal Felipe Massa

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      SCHUMACHER’s best pal Felipe Massa has said he is praying for his friend’s full recovery after visiting him following his tragic ski crash.Today marks a full decade since Michael fell and struck a rock so hard it split his ski helmet in two – leaving him in a coma for 250 days.
      Felipe Massa (left) and Michael Schumacher were teammates at Scuderia FerrariCredit: Reuters
      Massa, 42, was considered a younger brother to Schumacher, and constantly prays for his friend’s full recoveryCredit: Reuters

      Schuey has since been living alongside his wife Corinna at their Lake Geneva home under the care of a team of 15 doctors.
      The F1 legend’s condition has been kept under lock and key, leaving fans and motorsport enthusiasts wondering about his health.
      But ex-Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, 42, was one of the few lucky ones to have visited Schumacher after his accident in Meribel, France.
      Regarded by the Schumacher family as Michael’s younger brother, Massa gave little information on Schuey’s condition as he insists in respecting the family’s privacy.
      More Schumacher stories
      “I saw him,” Massa told Brazilian podcast Fala Galvao.
      “But I think we always have to respect Corinna’s decision.
      “Schumacher was like that, always very reserved with his family.
      “Even when he was still racing, his children only entered the racetrack when the race started, so as not to have the press on them.”
      Most read in Motorsport
      When asked if Schumacher’s situation was in any way reversible, Massa replied: “I think if there was something [positive/ a solution], we would have known by now.”
      But the Brazilian star remains hopeful and says he constantly prays for his friend’s full recovery.
      “But I’m always cheering and praying that maybe one day he’ll be back here, watching [Formula 1] or entering a race track, which is where I’ve always been with him.”
      The latest news comes after former F1 ace and pal of Schuey – Timo Glock – spoke about what life could’ve been like had the icon of Motorsports never been in the accident.
      The 41-year-old German fantasised over what he thinks Schumacher might be up to today if he was able to recover fully and regain his drive and determination for success.
      Timo Glock said: “He would always have been around the F1 paddock but whether he would have been a pundit, I don’t know.
      “He would not have been the F1 expert in front of the cameras. Yes, he would have done interviews but I think he would have worked for the sport he lived for.”
      But Timo feels like his quest for glory would’ve made him want to continue and win more championships but as a team principle.
      He continued: “Maybe not in the first part of his retirement, maybe later on. But he would definitely have been a good person in that position because he knows exactly what it needs.”
      Other successful drivers have also turned into team bosses such as Alain Prost and Sir Jackie Stewart.
      The driver also said he “never thought it would be that tragic” a decade on from the horror ski crash.
      Timo spoke to BettingSites.co.uk about how he first heard about the news and how he never imagined it would cause so much long-term pain to Michael.
      “We were playing cards and we heard about it on the news. It was a huge shock. You never thought it would be that tragic.
      “With Michael normally you would say he stands up and walks away. But sometimes things can be tragic.”
      Schumacher has also reportedly been back in the seat of a Mercedes car to help with his recovery.
      The F1 legend has been driven around in sporty AMG Merc to help stimulate his brain with familiar sounds of race cars.
      German publication BILD broke the heartwarming news about the ex-Mercedes driver being given regular trips in their cars as part of his treatment.
      Read more on The Sun
      The purpose of the trips was to stimulate his brain with familiar sounds of race cars and the roar of a Mercedes AMG engine.
      The seven time world champion dominated motorsport in a decade of dominance between 1994 and 2004 when he won titles with both Ferrari and Benetton.
      Felipe was one of the few lucky F1 stars to visit Schuey after the fateful 2013 ski crashCredit: EPA More

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      Inside Michael Schumacher’s secretive & ironclad inner circle from Todt to Badoer & those cut by Corinna ‘for his sake’

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      AS ONE of the greatest race car drivers of all time Michael Schumacher could’ve had his pick of friends – from fellow F1 legends to the rich and famous outside of Motorsports.But after his tragic ski accident that left him fighting for his life the iconic German’s friendship group has been trimmed down as his family continue to keep his health a secret and his inner circle small.
      Michael Schumacher’s wife Corinna has created an inner circle for the legendary F1 figure to help ensure their families privacyCredit: Alamy

      Luca Badoer (middle left) and Ruebens Barrichello (far right) were drivers for Ferrari with Michael (far left) but since the accident just Luca has been allowed to see himCredit: AP:Associated Press
      As an accomplished skier, the retired seven-times 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, exactly a decade ago.
      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.
      Doctors later said the headgear is the only reason he’s still alive.
      read more in SCHUMACHER’S LIFE
      Michael was then placed in a medically induced coma to try to reduce the swelling and in the decade since the F1 superstar has never been seen in public and health updates have been very rare.
      This sparked a whole host of unanswered questions from friends, fans and fellow drivers that his family refused to comment on.
      Since 2013, his wife Corinna has been creating a private world around Michael as he continues his recovery – including forming a tight knit group of people allowed to see the great man and those who can’t.
      Corinna has cut out certain people for a plethora or reasons including keeping the families privacy a priority and for the sake of Schuey.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Michael’s wife – who he described as his “guardian angel” – has done her best to keep their life private including reportedly slimming down his £500m business empire and selling prized assets such as his private jet and Norwegian home.
      She has even converted part of their £50million home into a hospital where 15 doctors and a team of masseurs give him 24-hour care and the surrounding forest and security fences kept him away from anyone not welcome.
      Jean Todt
      The ex-F1 boss has been close to Michael for over 30 years and is one of the only people outside of his family who has publicly spoken about the Germans well being and what he gets up to these days.
      Todt, 77, spoke about the pairs relationship in an interview with German TV channel RTL.
      He revealed that he and Michael watch F1 races together when Jean visits the seven-time world champion at his Geneva home.
      The two have been meeting up around once a month since the accident with Jean even saying “his family are my family”.
      Schumacher’s former boss at Ferrari said: “I don’t miss Michael, I see him. Yes, it’s true, I watch races with Michael.
      “But sure, I guess what I miss is what we used to do together.”
      “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.
      “Sometimes success and money changes you. But Michael has never changed. He’s so strong.” 
      Jean first met Michael when he took the already two time champion under his wing at the “The Prancing Horse” and helped him win five consecutive world titles between 2000 to 2004.
      Since the accident Jean has always been adamant that the Schumacher family should be left alone and not made to discuss Michael.
      Sabine Kehm
      Sabine Kehm was a relatively unknown journalist before her first interview with the Michael when she was just a 29-year-old.
      Six years later, Sabine was invited into the inner circle of everything Schumacher when she accepted an offer to become his press officer.
      The 59-year-old has been in this coveted role for over 13 years now and later became his manager as in that time the pair struck up a brilliant relationship.
      Sabine became responsible for keeping Schumacher’s life in check and helping the very busy man stay organised.
      She was tasked with buying birthday presents for members of his team when he was at Ferrari and making sure he did enough media to keep sponsors and fans happy but not enough to annoy Michael.
      Kehm remembers a conversation she had with him when they first grew close and it’s something that’s stuck with her even after the accident.
      She said: “Once in a long discussion Michael said to me: ‘You don’t need to call me for the next year, I’m disappearing.’
      “I think it was his secret dream to be able to do that some day.
      “That’s why now I still want to protect his wishes in that I don’t let anything get out.”
      Sabine is seen as one of the most powerful members of the inner circle as she was with Michael more than most during his career.
      She kept on top of the press and tried her best to keep them in line with whatever Michael did and didn’t want to do.
      Even after his accident, when people were desperate to see him and know what condition he was in Kehm made sure anything the family wanted to keep private remained a secret.
      Luca Badoer
      Ex-Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer and Schumacher’s careers first crossed paths when the pair were at the Italian giants together.
      Michael was the best driver in the world for a long period of time during his time at Ferrari and the whole time Badoer played a pivotal role in helping the team achieve such great success by testing the car.
      But since then – back in the late 90s – the pair have stayed in contact.
      Badoer revealed a few years ago that he visits the great driver regularly and is welcomed in by the family.
      He also noted that the family want to keep some things a complete secret and he will “respect their will largely”.
      He continued: “I do not even want to talk about this, because I’ve never talked about it, just because the family does not want to.
      “The visits to him are really granted to a few people, at the behest of Corinna. We respect what they want, and there is no need to make controversy.”
      Schumacher’s previous health leaksThe Schumacher family has faced several other issues with keeping their father and husband’s life as secretive as possible.
      A legal battle in 2016 was waged after German magazine Bunte reported the racing legend “could walk”.
      The court case led to a few small pieces of information being revealed, with Schumacher’s lawyers confirming he still couldn’t walk.
      Corinna also reportedly led the effort to hide a ghoulish photo of the F1 legend that was reportedly snapped and then smuggled out by a “friend” and offered around to news outlets for a whopping £1million.
      German prosecutors called the disgusting act a “violation of his personal range of life” and breach of privacy.
      Corinna reportedly demanded the cops take action, but the media outlet refused to reveal its source – and also claimed it never saw any of the images of Schumacher.

      Michael with his former boss Jean Todt (left) – Jean is known to visit the Schumacher home regularly and watch F1 races with the recovering driverCredit: AFP
      Sabine Kehm has always made sure the superstar’s health isn’t out in the public and remained a secret for the family
      Luca Badoer (right) has been a friend of Michael’s for decades and is a part of the inner circle made up by his wife CorinnaCredit: EPA
      Rubens Barrichello
      Despite being teammates for the most successful period of Michael’s career between the glory years of 2000 to 2005 Barrichello has been banned from seeing the superstar.
      In an interview on Brazilian TV network Globo, Barrichello said: “I tried to find a way to visit him, but they said to me: ‘It will not do you or him any good’.”
      Barrichello has been critical of the way he felt he was treated during his time at Ferrari by the team and Michael and voiced his feelings to the media.
      He said the lead driver was “was never supportive” and “never there to offer help”.
      The Brazilian said he ended up feeling like the team was made for Schumacher only and not for himself at all.
      During his time at Williams Racing, Barrichello also screamed that Schumacher “tried to kill him” and nearly “sending him to heaven” in a 200 mph horror move during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
      Willi Weber
      One of the biggest exclusions from Corinna’s inner circle is the man who is often credited with discovering Schumacher and kick starting his near perfect career.
      Willi Weber, 81, was the long-term manager of the F1 champion, but after being barred from seeing Michael he now fears he’ll never see his former protégé ever again.
      Weber recently revealed that he had received “no positive news” after allegedly being shut out of the racing star’s life for the last 10 years.
      He told the Cologne Express: “When I think of Michael now, unfortunately I don’t have anymore hope that I will see him again.
      “No positive news after ten years.”
      He also recalled how gutted he felt about not being able to see the man he once said was like a son to him immediately after the accident.
      “Of course, I regret that very much and blame myself. I should have visited Michael in the hospital. I mourned like a dog after his accident.”
      Much like Barrichello – Weber has been critical in the press about the family extraordinarily accusing them of not being honest to the public about the Schumacher’s condition.
      He said: “I find it very unfortunate that Michael’s fans do not know about his health. Why are they not being told the truth?”
      And in July last year, Weber once again made headlines by demanding that the Schumacher family come out with the truth about his health.
      He said he was still “angry” that he had not been kept informed once since the F1 legend’s ski accident.
      He told Italian sports publication La Gazetta dello Sport: “I tried hundreds of times to contact Corinna and she didn’t answer.
      “They kept me out, telling me it’s too early, well now it’s too late. It’s been nine years. Maybe they should just say it the way it is.”
      Eddie Jordan
      The famed founder of Jordan Grand Prix was apparently blocked after putting in a request to visit Michael and see how he was.
      Jordan told the Irish Daily Mirror: “So, there was connection and I reached out and one stage asked was it appropriate and did I think we should go and visit him.
      “The answer was no. No visitations for anyone at that moment except the actual direct family.”
      Jordan has since stayed in contact with Michael’s famous son Mick who Jordan labelled as “extraordinary”, but still hasn’t met the slowly recovering Schumacher.
      The former F1 boss, gave Schumacher his big break in motor racing back in 1991, and considered himself a good friend of Michael’s.
      He continued: “I made an effort to go see Michael in the early days and Corinna refused, and rightfully so because too many people wanted to go see him.
      “Jean Todt was given the privilege to go see him because of how close they were from their time together at Ferrari which is completely understandable.
      Read more on The Sun
      “I was not able to go see Michael and they said ‘We love you Eddie and we’ve been involved with you for a very long time, but we do need privacy and safeguard of Michael’.”
      Rubens Barrichello (left) opened up about his relationship with Michael Schumacher and revealed he asked to visit his former teammate but was told no
      Eddie Jordan (left) with Schumacher in 1991 – the former F1 boss asked to see Michael after the skiing accident but his request was rejected
      Willi Weber (right) is known as the man who first discovered Schmuacher in 1989 but since his accident Weber hasn’t been allowed to see the man he saw as a son More

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      Michael Schumacher’s wife Corinna is running the family just like he wanted – but he’s left a huge void, says F1 pal

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      A CLOSE friend of Michael Schumacher’s has revealed the devastating impact his skiing accident had on those around him.Former F1 ace – Johnny Herbert – said “there has been a huge void left” from the tragic crash that left the legendary driver fighting for his life and needing 24-hour care for the last ten years.
      Michael Schumacher’s skiing crash a decade ago has continued to leave his family, friends and the world of F1 devastated by the impact of itCredit: Getty
      Schumacher’s wife Corinna has run the family just the way he would’ve wanted according to palsCredit: Getty
      Schumacher’s close pal Johnny Herbert said the skiing accident a decade ago has left a ‘huge void’ in many people’s lives
      Johnny – who raced against Michael for many years – spoke to Grosvenor Sport about how the accident had a massive knock on effect for the Schumacher family.
      The British driver said: “They are trying to carry on as a family as Michael would have wanted. They are getting on with their lives but private does mean private.”
      Michael’s wife Corinna has worked hard to keep her husband’s health status a secret and keep his privacy intact.
      Over the last decade details of Schuey’s health has been hidden from fans as he’s stayed completely out of the spotlight and not been seen or heard from once.
      READ MORE IN SCHUMACHER’S LIFE
      Corinna has even formed an inner circle of people she feels can be trusted seeing the German icon – including banning others from knowing about Michael’s current state.
      Mick – Corinna and Michael’s son – has also been through an incredibly tough few years after the accident, according to Johnny.
      He continued: “Mick has said he could always talk to Michael about racing before the accident. That is one of the saddest things for any sportsman.
      “It would have been a very important part of his development at that time. But Mick never had that unfortunately. He just had that relationship up until the skiing accident.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Mick was alongside his father on the day of the crash that left him in a coma for 250 days and needing multiple serious brain surgeries.
      He also reflected on how the star’s crash had affected Michael’s racing driver sibling Ralf.
      “Ralf has had to do a lot of things for and with the family given what happened to Michael,” Herbert said.
      “He has matured. He is very different now to the person he was as a driver.
      “He is a good human being now. He has changed a lot having had to cope with the ongoing situation with his brother.”
      Johnny Herbert went on to note that despite having hours of amazing and positive footage from the Michael’s past in F1, it all just remains a memory.
      “It would be lovely just to have Michael back now,” Johnny went on to say.
      “There has been a huge void left since Schumacher’s crash. When the accident happened it was a big shock for everybody.
      One of these groups affected massively was the current group of drivers – many of which had either raced against Michael or grown up with him as their idol.
      The seven time world champion dominated Motorsport in a decade of dominance between 1994 and 2004 and was known for his grit and will to win.
      Johnny said: “He was massively respected by the flock of current drivers at the time (of his accident), but actually probably by nearly all the drivers today.
      “If you ask them who was the driver they looked up to and watched when you were growing up, they would say Michael.
      “Michael was the one who drove them to achieve their dream of getting into Formula 1.”
      Johnny has also previously reveal that Schumacher was “not close” to his former self following the ski crash.
      He felt saddened by the fact there was never any positive news about his pal and called the situation “horrible to still not able to be close to the Michael that we all remember.”
      Read more on The Sun
      After knowing Schumacher for several years when they were both elite sportsmen the pair used to get smashed and rip up pals’ clothes off at wild post-race parties.
      The ex Sky Sports pundit came clean about their crazy times but admits they would never get away with it now.
      Herbert raced against Michael and with him for Benetton for years as the pair became good friends
      Michael Schumacher’s life has been kept a secret for a decade after his tragic accident that saw him with severe brain injuriesCredit: AFP More

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      Lewis Hamilton the only driver to snub F1 tradition after another struggling season for Mercedes star

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      SIR LEWIS HAMILTON was the only Formula One star who opted out of the vote for Driver of the Year.Max Verstappen won the award for the third consecutive season.
      Lewis Hamilton was the only driver who did not vote for the awardCredit: Getty
      Max Verstappen was named Driver of the Year for the third time in a rowCredit: PA
      The Red Bull star ran away with the championship after winning 19 out of 22 races in a dominant campaign.
      Verstappen’s record-breaking season included a never-seen-before ten wins in a row, while he also set a new points record with 575.
      Hamilton finished second in the voting with Fernando Alonso rounding off the top three.
      Sergio Perez, who finished second in the F1 standings behind his team-mate Verstappen, placed tenth in the vote.
      READ MORE IN F1
      Drivers are allowed to choose themselves in the secret vote.
      A top ten is picked with number one receiving 25 points and number ten just one point.
      All F1 drivers took part except Hamilton, who has picked up the gong eight times.
      The Brit will be aiming for number nine this time next year as he aims to win the F1 championship for a record eighth time.
      Most read in Motorsport
      All F1 stars except Hamilton voted for their top ten drivers of 2023
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      And he has promised Mercedes will be a “different animal” next year.
      He said: “It’s always the exciting time of the year because I have seen the car in the wind tunnel.
      “I always go by the wind tunnel when I go to the factory and to see it evolving in whichever direction it ends up going.
      “As soon as I was leaving, again I popped in just to see where we were and when I come back it’ll be again a different animal.
      “But I have full faith in everyone that’s working on it and hopeful that we’ll be in a much more competitive position next year.” More

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      How Michael Schumacher’s wife Corinna manages his life & £500million fortune and fights to keep his condition secret

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      TOMORROW will mark ten years since Schumacher’s tragic skiing accident and since he was last seen in public. His wife, Corinna, has fiercely protected his privacy and any details of the F1 ace’s health for the past decade.
      Schumacher’s health updates have been guarded by his wife Corinna for 10 yearsCredit: Alamy
      The couple wed during Schumacher’s second world championship winning season in 1995Credit: Netflix
      They share a daughter, Gina-Maria, 26, and a son, Mick, 24Credit: Netflix
      Along with it, she continues to manage not only his life, but also a £500 million fortune.
      Corinna, 54, is at the heart of Michael Schumacher’s empire which is estimated by financial experts to be over half a billion euros.
      Although the renowned formula 1 driver had a circle of financial and tax advisors, he always listened to his wife and the couple made decisions together.
      With real estate on different continents, Corinna meets with a small group of four or five advisors about three or four times a year.
      read more on Schumacher
      That is when she makes future decisions about sales and investments.
      Corinna  has reportedly slimmed down his £500m business empire and sold prized assets such as his private jet and house in Norway as the family retreated to their secluded home on the shore of Lake Geneva.
      Last year, in the summer of 2022, the driver’s family acquired a 584,642 sq ft plot of land in Majorca, Spain for £2.4 million.
      Corinna not only manages millions in assets, she is one of the most successful reining experts in the world.
      Most read in Motorsport
      As the owner of the CS ranches in Switzerland and America, she has earned over £1.5 million in prize money with her horses in reining.
      Daughter Gina is now the youngest member of the One Million Dollar Club with prize money of over £1 million.
      Schumacher, 54, suffered a horrific head injury while skiing with his son Mick in December 2013 – just one year after his retirement from F1.
      Corinna has been looking after Michael and their children, Mick and Gina-Maria, ever since the skiing accident turned their lives upside down.
      The couple married in 1995 – and Gina-Maria, 26, is a keen equestrian just like mum, while Mick, 24, has followed his dad’s footsteps into F1 with the Haas team.
      No one outside of Schumacher’s inner circle – which has Corinna at its heart – really knows what is happening with Michael.
      Close friends have claimed they’ve been banned from seeing the stricken F1 legend as a slick PR operation and team of lawyers ensured almost nothing about his condition has been shared with his fans.
      Schumacher’s devoted wife has always said she is simply following Michael’s wishes – with the seven-time champ always being careful to keep his personal life private.
      But it has left his millions of adoring fans desperate to know the truth as rumours swirl about the allegedly bed-bound icon.
      Schumacher spoke of his love for his wife just days before his crash, telling German TV: “During all the time I was racing she was my guardian angel.”
      And she has continued to watch over him ever since, reportedly being by his side from the moment he was rushed to hospital in Grenoble.
      Corinna is said to have converted part of their £50million lakeside mansion in Gland into a state-of-the-art hospital, with a team of 15 medics providing 24-hour care at a cost of £115,000 a week.
      Meanwhile the thick surrounding forest and security fences kept him away from any possible intrusion.
      It’s reported Corinna has been kitted out their £27million majorca home with a mini hospital to help make the German racer comfortable.
      And in a rare interview with Germany’s She magazine in 2019, Corinna revealed it is her notoriously private husband who has dictated the news blackout.
      She said: “He is in the best of hands right now and we are doing everything we can to help him.
      “Try to understand that we follow Michael’s desire to keep his health a secret.”
      The family even waged a legal battle in 2016 after German magazine Bunte reported the racing legend “could walk”.
      The court case actually led to a few small pieces of information being revealed, with Schumacher’s lawyers confirming he still couldn’t walk two years on from the crash.
      Corinna also reportedly led the effort to hide a ghoulish photo of the F1 legend that was reportedly snapped and then smuggled out by a “friend”.
      It is alleged to have been offered to European news outlets for a staggering £1million.
      German prosecutors in Offenburg later confirmed that “an unknown person” had taken “secret” snaps and were offering them for “high amounts of money”.
      They called the disgusting act a “violation of his personal range of life” and breach of privacy.
      Corinna reportedly demanded the cops take action, but the media outlets refused to reveal its source – and also claimed it never saw any of the images of Schumacher.
      Read more on The Sun
      The recent news of the F1 legend report he has been driven around in sporty AMG Mercedeces to help stimulate his brain with familiar sounds of race cars.
      And another update came from the driver’s younger brother Ralf who has admitted the F1 ace may never completely recover, despite receiving advanced medical treatment.
      Corinna now manages Schumacher’s £500 million empire and her own business enterpriseCredit: Rex Features
      In a rare interview, she admitted it’s the driver’s wish to have his privacy protectedCredit: AFP
      German Formula 1 driver hasn’t been seen in public for a decade nowCredit: AFP
      Corinna with daughter Gina-Maria, 26, at a prize giving in honour of Michael last yearCredit: Rex More

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      Michael Schumacher ‘has been driven round in Mercedes to stimulate his brain as he’s cared for by team of 15 doctors’

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      MICHAEL Schumacher has reportedly been back in the seat of a Mercedes car almost 10 years since his tragic ski accident.The F1 legend has been driven around in sporty AMG Merc to help stimulate his brain with familiar sounds of race cars.
      Michael Schumacher, pictured before his accident, has been driven round in a Mercedes to help stimulate his brain and help with his recovery
      Schumacher has 24-hour assistance from 15 doctors and a team of masseurs after his tragic ski accident almost a decade agoCredit: AFP
      The purpose of the trips was to help his brain by getting him to listen to familiar sounds of race cars and the roar of a Mercedes AMG engineCredit: Alamy
      It comes as further details emerge about Schumacher’s condition and treatment.
      He is being looked after by an expert team of 15 doctors and his loving wife Corinna at their estate in Switzerland.
      Still seen as one of the greatest F1 drivers in history, Schuey has been receiving 24-hour care ever since he suffered a devastating head injury while skiing in the French Alps. 
      December 29, marks a decade since the driver fell and struck a a rock so hard it split his helmet in two – leaving him in a coma for 250 days.
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      German publication BILD recently revealed that alongside the 15 doctors, Schumacher also has a range of masseurs and assistants as part of his care team. 
      BILD also broke the heartwarming news about the ex-Mercedes driver being given regular trips in their cars as part of his treatment.
      The purpose of the trips was to stimulate his brain with familiar sounds of race cars and the roar of a Mercedes AMG engine.
      The seven time world champion dominated motorsport in a decade of dominance between 1994 and 2004 when he won titles with both Ferrari and Benetton.
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      Schumacher spent over two decades racing, making his F1 debut in 1991 at the Belgian Grand Prix for the Jordan team.
      He ended his illustrious career after the 2012 season and was replaced by Lewis Hamilton – the man who would go on to equal his record number of world titles.
      Ever since his accident, his family have kept his life and condition completely private and he has not been seen or heard from.
      He currently lives alongside his wife at their Lake Geneva home under the care of a team of doctors.
      The latest news comes after former F1 ace and pal of Schuey – Timo Glock – spoke about what life could’ve been like had the icon of Motorsports never been in the accident.
      The 41-year-old German fantasised over what he thinks Schumacher might be up to today if he was able to recover fully and regain his drive and determination for success.
      Timo Glock said: “He would always have been around the F1 paddock but whether he would have been a pundit, I don’t know.
      “He would not have been the F1 expert in front of the cameras. Yes, he would have done interviews but I think he would have worked for the sport he lived for.”
      But Timo feels like his quest for glory would’ve made him want to continue and win more championships but as a team principle.
      He continued: “Maybe not in the first part of his retirement, maybe later on. But he would definitely have been a good person in that position because he knows exactly what it needs.”
      Other successful drivers have also turned into team bosses such as Alain Prost and Sir Jackie Stewart.
      The driver also said he “never thought it would be that tragic” a decade on from the horror ski crash.
      Timo spoke to BettingSites.co.uk about how he first heard about the news and how he never imagined it would cause so much long-term pain to Michael.
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      “We were playing cards and we heard about it on the news. It was a huge shock. You never thought it would be that tragic.
      “With Michael normally you would say he stands up and walks away. But sometimes things can be tragic.”
      The ex-Mercedes man hasn’t been seen near a race car in almost a decade as he recovers at home from a tragic skiing accident
      Schumacher is looked after by his wife Corinna who has made sure to keep his life and health private amongst just his close friends and familyCredit: Rex Features More

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      I remember the day of Michael Schumacher’s ski crash 10 years ago – I never thought it would be this tragic, says F1 pal

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      MICHAEL Schumacher’s close pal has revealed what was going through his mind on the day of the legendary drivers devastating accident.Former F1 ace – Timo Glock – said he “never thought it would be that tragic” ten years on from the ski crash that left details of Schuey’s health hidden from his fans and completely out of the spotlight.
      Former F1 driver Timo Glock spoke about his close pal Michael Schumacher and revealed he never imagined the accident would be so tragic
      Glock is still in contact with the Schumacher family and is happy they keep Schuey’s life and health privateCredit: Getty
      As one of motor racing’s most iconic figures, the 54-year-old hasn’t been seen publicly since 2013 after he suffered a blow to the head that left him in a medically-induced coma for 250 days.
      Timo spoke to BettingSites.co.uk about how he first heard about the news and how he never imagined it would cause so much long-term pain to Michael.
      He said: “I was sitting with Timo Schneider, a good friend of mine, in his house where we were spending New Year together.
      “We were playing cards and we heard about it on the news. It was a huge shock. You never thought it would be that tragic.
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      “With Michael normally you would say he stands up and walks away. But sometimes things can be tragic.”
      Timo is still in “very good contact” with the Schumacher family and especially the legend’s son, Mick.
      He’s previously come out and applauded the family for keeping Schumacher’s health condition private.
      But the 41-year-old German has spoken about what he thinks Schumacher might be up to today if he was able to recover fully and regain his drive and determination for success.
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      Timo Glock said: “He would always have been around the F1 paddock but whether he would have been a pundit, I don’t know.
      “He would not have been the F1 expert in front of the cameras. Yes, he would have done interviews but I think he would have worked for the sport he lived for.”
      The seven time world champion dominated motorsport in a decade of dominance between 1994 and 2004.
      But Timo feels like his quest for glory would’ve made him want to continue and win more championships but as a team principle.
      He continued: “Maybe not in the first part of his retirement, maybe later on. But he would definitely have been a good person in that position because he knows exactly what it needs.”
      Other successful drivers have also turned into team bosses such as Alain Prost and Sir Jackie Stewart.
      After Max Verstappen clinched his third World Driver Championship earlier on this year in formidable fashion, many have likened his ability, consistency and will to win with Schuey’s.
      But Timo doesn’t think you can compare the two just yet despite him being impressed with Max.
      He said: “I am not one for comparing drivers from different eras. Every decade or so a great comes along who dominates. At the moment it is Max.
      “You can relate this to Michael, when he was at Ferrari winning for the first time and building an unbeatable team.
      “What impressed me the most about Max is zero mistakes. No mistakes from the team in terms of strategy, no technical mistakes in terms of reliability.
      “With all the races you have now, this is unbelievable. It is at another level. So impressive.”
      Airlifted to hospital after the ski crash in the French Alps, Michael had two life-saving operations to remove blood clots from his brain.
      Doctors later said if it had not been for his headgear, he would have died instantly.
      Michael, who is married to Corinna, 54, was placed in a medically induced coma to try to reduce the swelling.
      Michael’s former Ferrari colleague Luca Badoer, one of those allowed regular visits, revealed: “Only a few people are allowed to visit.
      “Corinna decides who is allowed to see him.
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      “The family wants to maintain a sort of secrecy about this and I respect their will.
      “They do all this for the good of Michael.”
      Glock said he thinks Schumacher would still be winning World Championships today but potentially as a team principle not a driverCredit: AFP
      On December 29, 2023, it will be a decade since the tragic skiing accident that left the Motorsport icon in a coma for 250 daysCredit: Alamy More