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      Inside Michael Schumacher’s decade-long recovery from ‘desperately cruel’ ski crash as brother shares devastating update

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      IT was a sunny Alpine morning as Michael Schumacher and his son Mick emerged, ten years ago this week, from their luxury chalet ready to take on the mountains.For a man who had been the king of speed in Formula One, the ski slopes offered the greatest racing driver of his generation another chance of an exhilarating adrenaline rush.
      It’s been 10 years since Formula One champion Michael Schumacher’s devastating skiing accidentCredit: AFP
      Michael was left in a coma for 250 days after the accidentCredit: AFP
      An accomplished skier, the retired seven-times world champion, 44, and his 14-year-old son set off on the Combe de Saulire ski run in the exclusive French  resort of Meribel.
      Footage from the German driver’s helmet camera revealed he was not travelling at excessive speed for his abilities yet, moments later, his skis struck a rock partly concealed beneath fresh snow and catapulted him 3.5 metres (11.5ft) head first on to a second boulder.
      The impact of the collision, shortly after 11am on December 29, 2013 was so intense that it split his helmet in two and left him in a coma for 250 days.
      Now his younger brother Ralf has admitted the F1 legend may never completely recover, despite receiving advanced medical treatment.
      read more on Schumacher
      He said: ““Nothing is like it used to be.”
      Ralf, who also raced and won six F1 Grands Prix, told German outlet Bild this week: “Life is unfair at times.
      “That day held a lot of bad luck. This fate has changed our family.”
      He added: “Michael wasn’t only my brother.
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      “When we were kids he was also my coach and mentor. He taught me every- thing about kart racing.
      “There may be an age gap of seven years but he was always by my side.”
      Yesterday Michael’s F1 pal Perry McCarthy, the man behind Top Gear’s original mystery character The Stig, said his fate was “desperately cruel”, adding: “It’s incredible that someone so special can be so badly hurt while skiing.
      “It’s so cruel that Michael happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
      Perry told sports betting website OLBG: “Nobody knows exactly what Michael would have gone on to do, but my feeling is that he’d have done something for humanity.
      “I feel he had that capacity, and I think he would have retained his love for F1, but he would have realised that there are much bigger things in life and he had the opportunity to change things.”
      Airlifted to hospital, 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.
      In the decade that has followed, the F1 superstar has not been seen in public and  health updates have been irregular.
      Into this void has come un-founded rumour and conjecture.
      His family has remained largely silent about his condition and access is given only to those closest to him.
      Michael’s for- mer Ferrari colleague Luca Badoer, one of those allow-ed regular visits, revealed: “Only a few people are allowed to visit.
      “Corinna decides who is allowed to see him.
      “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.”
      Mick, now 24 and the spit-ting image of his dad, has described his father as his “idol” and “role model”.
      He, too, is a racing driver, who competed in F1 for Haas before losing his seat for the 2023 season to Nico Hulkenberg.
      In 2024 he will move to the World Endurance Championship, where his dad competed with Sauber-Mercedes before making his grand prix debut in 1991, to race for Alpine.
      In July fans were reduced to tears when Mick drove Michael’s Mercedes at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex while wearing his dad’s iconic red helmet and race suit.
      Mick said at the time: “It’s going to be spectacular to run, in my dad’s 2011 car, the W02 — even if it is only a short run.”
      Cashing in on the public sympathy for Michael, in April, a German magazine ran a tasteless  AI-generated “interview” with the stricken driver.
      Die Aktuelle’s front cover showed a photo of him smiling, with a headline promising,  “Michael Schumacher, the first interview”.
      But in fact the chat was written with an artificial intelligence tool.
      The family threatened legal action and Die Aktuelle’s editor was sacked.
      Named sport’s first billionaire by Euro-business magazine, Michael revolut-ionised the pinnacle of motor racing.
      Born with seemingly superhuman co-ordination and spatial awareness, he honed his physique to handle the G-force stress on his body in races.
      When cornering and braking, a driver’s head, plus helmet, effectively weighs almost half as much as their entire body.
      So Michael designed a cockpit-shaped exercise machine that attached to his helmet, which he used for hour after hour.
      At the time of his retirement in 2012 he held records for the most F1 wins (91), pole positions (68) and podium finishes (155).
      Born to working-class parents in Hurth, West Germany, he won his first karting championship aged six.
      Making his F1 debut in 1991, he went on to land seven drivers’ titles, a record equalled by Sir Lewis Hamilton in 2020.
      Away from the track — where he was described as a “perfectionist” — Michael was, according to manager Sabine Kehm, “devoted to his family”.
      In 1995 he wed champion equestrian and animal rights activist Corinna Betsch.
      They had children Gina-Maria in 1997 and son Mick in 1999.
      Shunning the celebrity limelight, the family lived in a newly built mansion with a private beach on Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
      They also own a horse ranch in Switzerland and another in Texas.
      Michael once described his marriage as “total harmony”, adding: “We have the same vision of how we want to spend our lives.”
      In April 2014, three months after Michael was placed in a coma, manager Sabine revealed he was showing “moments of consciousness and awakening”.
      Though still being treated in intensive care at Grenoble Hospital, he was said to be “making progress”.
      Michael made his F1 debut in 1991 and went on to land seven drivers’ titlesCredit: Reuters
      Michael’s wife Corinna has been by his side through his recoveryCredit: Rex
      Michael’s son Mick is a racing driver who competed in F1 for HaasCredit: AP
      There followed another period of silence about Michael’s condition, then a fresh statement in June 2014 revealed he was no longer in a coma.
      His “long phase of rehabilitation” continued at the University Hospital of Lausanne in Switzerland.
      In September that year it emerged Michael had been transferred to his home beside Lake Geneva.
      Manager Sabine said: “Henceforth, Michael’s rehabilitation will take place at his home.
      “Considering the severe injuries that he suffered, progress has been made in the past weeks and months.”
      And she pleaded for speculation about his health to be “avoided”.
      Two months later a friend of Michael’s offered a glimpse into his condition.
      Wheelchair user and former racing driver Philippe Streiff, who had visited Michael in hospital, said: “He is getting better but everything is relative.
      “It’s very difficult.
      “He can’t speak. Like me, he is in a wheelchair, paralysed.
      “He has memory problems and speech problems.”
      Further updates were not forth-coming and the family dealt with their anguish privately, while strongly protecting his privacy.
      Then in May 2015 Sabine provided an update, revealing Michael’s con-dition was improving “considering the severeness of the injury he had”.
      That Christmas, German magazine Bunte reported that he could manage some steps with the help of therapists and could now raise an arm.
      It proved a false hope for his fans. The family sued Bunte, their lawyer telling a court Michael “cannot walk”.
      Then, in 2017, his former long-term manager Willi Weber made an extraordinary intervention, tell-ing a German newspaper: “I find it very unfortunate that Michael’s fans do not know about his health.
      “Why are they not being told the truth?”
      Two years later Jean Todt, Michael’s former boss at Ferrari and one of his closest confidantes, gave a rare update, revealing that they watched F1 races together on television.
      “Michael is in the best hands and is well looked after in his house,” Jean said.
      “He does not give up and keeps fighting.”
      Yet his precise physical and mental state remained shrouded in secrecy.
      In 2021, Corinna broke her silence to talk about her husband in a TV documentary.
      She revealed during an emotional interview: “I miss Michael every day. It’s not just me who misses him, everybody misses Michael.
      “But Michael is here — different, but here.
      “He still shows me how strong he is, every day.”
      During the Netflix documentary, called simply Schumacher, she added: “We are trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does.
      “We live together at home. We do therapy.
      “We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable.”
      Like his mother, Mick has main-tained a steadfast silence over precise details of his father’s health.
      In that 2021 documentary, Corinna provided an emotional rebuff to those who had accused the family of unnecessary secrecy.
      Read more on The Sun
      Corinna revealed of her husband: “We are getting on with our lives — ‘Private is private’, as he always said.
      “Michael always protected us, now we are protecting Michael.”
      Michael’s brother Ralf has admitted the F1 legend may never completely recoverCredit: Getty
      Corinna has chosen to keep Michael’s recovery privateCredit: Rex
      German mag Die Aktuelle ran an AI generate interview with MichaelCredit: Die AktuelleTIMELINE OF SLOW HEALING

      Dec 29, 2013: Michael suffers traumatic brain injury in a skiing accident in Méribel, France, and is airlifted to hospital in critical condition. Transported to CHU Grenoble hospital, where he remains for six months.
      Dec 30, 2013: Doctors place him in a medically induced coma.
      Jan 31, 2014: Michael is gradually woken. Not fully awake until June 6.
      Feb 7, 2014: Reports he has died denied.
      Mar 12, 2014: Family say he is showing “small, encouraging signs” and believe he will “pull through and will wake up”.
      April 4, 2014: Manager Sabine Kehm reveals he is showing “moments of consciousness and awakening”.
      June 16, 2014: Transferred to University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland, for rehab.
      September 9, 2014: Michael returns to his home next to Lake Geneva.
      His family say: “Progress has been made . . . There is still a long and difficult road ahead.”
      November 19, 2014: Former racing driver Philippe Streiff says after a visit: “He is getting better. It’s very difficult.
      “He can’t speak. He is in a wheelchair, paralysed. He has memory and speech problems.”
      September 2016: Michael’s lawyer, Felix Damm, says the F1 legend “cannot walk”.
      October 2017: Ex long-term manager Willi Weber says: “I find it very unfortunate that Michael’s fans do not know about his health.
      “Why are they not being told the truth?”
      November 2018: Wife Corinna gives the rare update: “It is good to receive so many kind wishes . . .  We all know Michael is a fighter and will not give up.”
      September 2021: In the Netflix documentary Schumacher, Corinna says: “Everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here – different, but here.
      “He still shows me how strong he is every day.” More

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      Michael Schumacher’s fate was ‘desperately cruel’ and only his inner circle know his true condition, says pal

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      TEN YEARS on from the tragic ski accident which left Michael Schumacher with life-changing injuries, only “a part” of his inner circle knows how he’s faring.Former Formula One driver Perry McCarthy, 62, says Michael’s family remains intent on “absolute privacy” when it comes to his condition.
      British racing driver Perry McCarthy has spoken out about his pal Michael near the 10-year anniversary of his ski accidentCredit: Alamy
      German former F1 driver Michael Schumacher cheering at a victory ceremony in 1994Credit: Alamy
      Michael has not been seen in public since his accident in the French Alps in 2013Credit: AFP
      Perry is best known to many as the original ‘Stig’ from Top GearCredit: Alamy
      Michael, 54, competed in F1 for Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, and Mercedes during his impressive career of 21 years – which came to a devastating halt in 2013 when he suffered a brain injury while skiing.
      The athlete was placed in a coma for six months and now resides in his Switzerland home away from the world as he continues to recover.
      His pal Perry of East London this week reflected on the “desperately cruel” nature of what happened almost 10 years ago to the day.
      Perry told OLBG: “His family are intent on absolute privacy and only a part of his inner circle will know details of Michael’s condition.
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      “I think it’s human nature to enquire, and the family will understand that considering how famous Michael is.”
      He added: “They’ve also become well-versed in containing the story. It’s incredible that someone so special can be so badly hurt whilst skiing.
      “It’s so cruel that Michael happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and everything conspired to leave such a bad mark on his health.”
      Perry, the man behind Top Gear’s original The Stig, said it was “incredibly sad” how despite working in a high-risk job, it was something completely unrelated which “struck” him.
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      He said: “It’s also incredible to think of all the near-misses that Michael, or any racing driver, had in his career, only for him to be struck down by a skiing accident and be so severely hurt that it has affected the family for ten years.”
      The F1 racing pair shared many significant milestones and memories, with Perry describing his long-time mate as someone who was warm and generous with a sense of humour.
      Perry reflected: “Nobody knows exactly what Michael would have gone on to do, but my feeling is that he’d have done something for humanity.
      “I feel he had that capacity, and I think he would have retained his love for F1, but he would have realised that there are much bigger things in life and he had the opportunity to change things.”
      It came as Michael’s brother Ralf, 48, shared a devastating update on the injured driving legend and said “nothing is like it used to be”.
      He previously revealed that he hadn’t been allowed much contact with Michael’s family.
      Just ahead of the ten year anniversary, Ralf admitted: “I miss the Michael of the old days. Life is unfair from time to time.
      “Michael was very lucky throughout his life. But then there was this tragic accident.”
      Another pal of Michael’s, 59-year-old former F1 driver Johnny Herbert, said Michael’s wife Corinna is carrying on the way he would have wanted despite the “huge void” left by his horror ski crash.
      Read more on The Sun
      He explained: “She [Corinna] has 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.”
      The F1 legend drove for Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes in a career that spanned 21 yearsCredit: Alamy
      Michael Schumacher poses with his wife Corinna on a piste in 2003Credit: Alamy More

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      Michael Schumacher’s brother gives heartbreaking update on F1 legend saying ‘nothing’s like it used to be’

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      MICHAEL Schumacher’s brother Ralf has said that the F1 legend may never completely recover from his horrific ski crash in 2013.He said that “nothing is like it used to be” since the driving legend’s crash despite advanced medical treatment.
      Michael Schumacher (right) having a laugh with Ralf (left) at the Canadian Grand Prix in 2003Credit: Reuters
      Ralf, 48, has spoken out about his brother’s conditionCredit: Getty
      Michael Schumacher with his wife Corinna on a piste in 2003Credit: Alamy
      Schumacher is largely considered to be the best driver in Formula One historyCredit: AFP
      The racing icon has not been seen in public since his accident in the French Alps in 2013, and very little is known about his condition.
      December 29 will mark ten years since Schumacher, largely considered to be the best driver in Formula One history, suffered the crash that left him in a coma for 250 days.
      His family have kept the specifics of his recovery and condition largely private and only immediate family, and close friends know any details.
      Ralf previously revealed that even he has not been allowed much contact with his brother’s family.
      READ MORE ON SCHUMACHER
      In an interview with German magazine Bunte he maintained that he still loved them, and would always be there for them should they ever need him.
      And now just ahead of the ten year anniversary Ralf, 48, has admitted: “I miss the Michael of the old days. Life is unfair from time to time.
      “Michael was very lucky throughout his life. But then there was this tragic accident.”
      He told German outlet Bild: “Michael wasn’t only my brother.
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      “When we were kids, he was also my coach and mentor. He taught me literally everything about kart racing.
      “There may be an age gap of seven years, but he was always by my side.
      “We raced together, we practised overtaking manoeuvres and everything that matters in motorsports.”
      Ralf, who also raced and won six F1 Grand Prix, said: “He passed on all the different things he had already internalised. I had the honour to learn from the best.”
      And he mulled over the effect of his brother’s crash on Schumacher’s kids.
       “It has been a significant experience for me but, of course, even more so for his children.
      “Life is unfair at times. That day held a lot of bad luck. This fate has changed our family.”
      Ralf was married to former model and TV presenter Cora Schumacher for 14 years but they split in February 2015.
      His son David, 22, competes in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) racing series.
      Schumacher’s son Mick, 24, also followed his father’s footsteps onto the race track.
      Ralf previously said: “When I see his children Gina-Maria and Mick, my heart smiles.
      “If someone in the family is looking for my advice, I’m there. They go their own way.”
      The 48-year-old revealed that he is hardly in contact with his brother’s family just days after the Schumacher family lawyer revealed why the racing legend never released a report on his health post accident.
      Speaking to the German news outlet LTO, their lawyer explained that an official report was never released to the public to protect private matters.
      He said: “Of course, we discussed a lot about how this is possible.
      “So we also considered whether a final report about Michael’s health could be the right way to do this.
      “But that wouldn’t have been the end of it and there would have had to be constantly updated ‘water level reports’.
      “They could pick up on such a report again and again and ask, ‘And what does it look like now?’ one, two, three months or years after the message.”
      Their family lawyer maintains that his approach to the situation has strengthened the privacy protection of the Formula One legend and his family.
      He stated that he understands many Schumacher fans want to know how the star is doing, but he believes that they should be able to respect the family’s privacy.
      A Formula One journalist, Roger Benoit, recently told Swiss newspaper Blick that Schumacher was “a case without hope.”
      Formula One legend and friend of Schumacher, Johnny Herbert, later called the comment “horrible”, but did reveal that Schumacher was “not close” to his former self following his ski crash.
      Herbert also said: “There’s never any news. What we do know is we never hear any positive news.
      “That’s the horrible thought that he is still not able to be close to the Michael that we all remember. And that is very sad.”
      He also reflected on how the star’s crash had affected Ralf.
      “Ralf has had to do a lot of things for and with the family given what happened to Michael.
      “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.”
      He later described Schumacher’s wife Corinna as “very strong” despite the “huge void” left by his crash.
      He said: “She [Corinna] has 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.” 
      And Jean Todt, Schumacher’s close friend and former boss, told French paper L’Equipe: “He’s just not the Michael he used to be.”
      He said: “He’s different and he’s wonderfully guided by his wife and children who protect him.
      “His life is different now, and I am privileged to share moments with him.
      “Unfortunately, fate struck him ten years ago.
      “He is no longer the Michael we knew in Formula 1.”
      The racing star’s ex-manager says he has no “hope” of seeing the F1 legend again.
      Willi Weber revealed that he had received no good news after allegedly being shut out of the racing star’s life for the last 10 years.
      Read more on The Sun
      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.”
      The Schumachers with kids Gina-Maria and MickCredit: Netflix
      Mick Schumacher, 24, followed his father onto the race trackCredit: PA
      Schumacher skiing in 2005Credit: AFP
      Michael Schumacher with close friend and former boss Jean TodtCredit: AFP
      Schumacher’s long-term manager Willi Weber, who does not believe he will ever see him againCredit: Alamy More

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      Schumacher’s ‘Italian mum’ says ‘world collapsed’ after accident & reveals F1 legend’s favourite meal at her restaurant

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      MICHAEL Schumacher’s “Italian mum” has said her world collapsed after the F1 legend’s tragic skiing accident – and hopes to meet him again.Speaking about her special bond with the racing star, chef Rossella Giannini praised him and revealed his favourite meal at her restaurant.
      Michael Schumacher would visit his Italian mum’s’ restaurant after race practise every dayCredit: Getty
      Chef Rossella said to this day she remembers when Schumacher first stepped inside her restaurantCredit: Getty
      Rossella Giannini owns and runs the Montana restaurant in Fiorano Modense, which is located just a two-minute drive away from Ferrari’s factory. 
      This was the automobile factory that delivered machinery to Schumacher which helped him to achieve five of his seven championships.
      The F1 legend would spent most of his time practising at the Fiorano racing circuit perfecting his moves and after wrapping up his duties, Schumacher would visit chef Rossella’s restaurant almost every day.
      The chef revealed they both eventually built a beautiful relationship, and to this day she remembers when Schumacher first stepped inside her restaurant – February 14, 1996.
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      Rossella said his all-time favourite at her eatery was “Tagliatelle Al Ragu” – a classic bolognese dish prepared with veil.
      She also said the Ferrari racer, in exceptional cases, liked to order garlic and oil spaghetti.
      However, after hearing the horror news of Schumacher’s skiing accident, Rossella said her “world collapsed” as she learnt about the severity of his injuries.
      She told Bild: “I was on vacation at the time of his accident and heard it on the news.
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      “When it became clear how bad the extent of it was, my world collapsed.
      “I can hardly believe that the accident happened ten years ago. In the meantime, I was able to make peace with the situation.
      “I no longer suffer, but remember the beautiful moments.”
      While Rossella said she no longers “bothers” the F1 racer, she hopes one day he will again walk in through the door of her resturaunt and she would make him his favourite dish again.
      “I don’t want to be a bother. The situation is difficult enough for the relatives.
      “Every now and then I talk to people from Ferrari and ask, but I don’t want to impose myself.
      “Every day I look at the front door and hope that he will walk through again and that I will make him tagliatelle al ragu.”
      It comes after Michael Schumacher’s pal has said his wife is carrying on the way he would have wanted despite the “huge void” left by his horror ski crash.
      Speaking to Grosvenor Sport, former F1 driver and Schumacher’s teammate Johnny Herbert revealed how the family are coping almost ten years on.
      Despite the “huge void” left by the 2013 horror crash, Herbert described Schumacher’s wife Corinna as “very strong”.
      He said: “She [Corinna] has 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.”    
      Seven-time world champion Schumacher, 54, suffered catastrophic injuries in the devastating accident while on a skiing holiday.
      Read more on The Sun
      December 29 will mark ten years since the racing icon, largely considered to be the best driver in Formula One history, suffered the crash that left him in a coma for over 200 days.
      Corinna, has protected the privacy of her husband to such an extent that only their immediate family, and closest of friends know any details.
      Rossella Giannini owns and runs the Montana restaurant in Fiorano Modense, which is located just a two-minute’s drive away from Ferrari’s factoryCredit: Getty
      Schumacher suffered catastrophic injuries in the devastating accident while on a skiing holidayCredit: AFP More

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      Max Verstappen snubbed from hiring Mercedes AMG GT with top speed of 195mph on holiday — as he’s ‘too young’

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      FORMULA One world champion Max Verstappen was snubbed when he tried to hire a high-performance car on holiday — as he was too young.The 26-year-old Dutch ace — used to racing at well over 200mph — was denied access to the Mercedes, which has a top speed of 195mph.
      Formula One ace Max Verstappen was unable to hire a Mercedes from car rental firm Sixt when he went on holidayCredit: Splash News
      Staff said that allowing Verstappento take the AMG GT motor would have breached its insurance policyCredit: Mercedes
      Staff at car rental firm Sixt said that allowing Verstappen — who won his first grand prix aged 18 — to take the AMG GT motor would have breached its insurance policy as he is under 30.
      The Red Bull racer, who this season won his third consecutive F1 world championship, instead had to make do with a less powerful BMW 5 Series.
      He flew to the Algarve in Portugal with family and friends on three private jets last Monday.
      The party had rented around 20 cars from Sixt at Faro Airport and hired the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve racing circuit for two days before Verstappen flew on to Brazil.
      READ MORE ON F1
      A source said: “Max and the group went to Portugal for a fun racing trip and had booked the cars they wanted.
      “When they got to the airport, Max was shocked when he was told he wasn’t allowed to drive the Mercedes he wanted.
      “He’s a seasoned F1 driver who’s used to handling powerful cars, so it’s quite astonishing to think he wasn’t allowed to get behind the wheel of this one — but those are the rules, so he abided by them.”
      Verstappen, who has hit a top speed of 213mph in his RB19 F1 car, had picked out the Mercedes AMG GT, which can do up to 195.7mph.
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      The BMW he was eventually given can cruise at up to 155.3mph.
      His manager Raymond Vermeulen ended up driving the Mercedes.
      Belgium-born Verstappen has won 54 races and made the podium 98 times in his F1 career.
      He has raced for Red Bull since 2016 and is said to have earned £43million this year alone.
      He began karting aged four and was competing in championships at seven. Dad Jos, 51, was also an F1 driver.
      Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan has said of Verstappen: “I believe he will turn out to be the greatest driver of all time.”
      A Sixt spokesman said: “The employees of our franchise partner in Portugal have only followed the rules that arise for insurance reasons.
      “In order to find a customer-friendly solution on site, Mr Verstappen was provided with another premium vehicle.
      “However, there can be special circumstances that justify a deviation from rules. This is such a case.
      “We apologise to Mr Verstappen. He can rent the car he wants from us at any time.
      “There is of course no doubt at all about his driving skills and his experience with powerful cars.”
      In August, Verstappen appeared to break the speed limit while driving a £2.3million Aston Martin Valkyrie supercar through a tunnel in France.
      Read more on The Sun
      A video showed him to seemingly be at 73mph on a 55mph road.
      His representative was asked to comment.
      Verstappen has hit a top speed of 213mph in his RB19 F1 carCredit: Getty More

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      Don Schumacher dead at 79: NHRA drag racer and team owner dies after ‘illness-related complications’

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      MOTORSPORTS legend Don Schumacher has died at 79 following a battle with lung cancer.His racing team, NHRA, announced his death on Thursday citing illness related complications.
      Don Schumacher has died at the age of 79Credit: Getty
      Schumacher’s cars won 19 NHRA world championshipsCredit: Getty
      Schumacher was a successful drag racer and was part of the founding of the Funny Car class. He won around 70 percent of the 560 races he entered.
      His legend grew exponentially when he became a car owner. His team collected 19 NHRA world championships and 362 Wally trophies.
      He built one of the most impressive resumes in racing history, but took time off in the 1970s to develop his family’s electric company into a successful global business.
      He returned to racing in 1998 as a car owner with his son Tony as his primary driver. Tony won 86 events for his father.

      Outside of his success on the race track, he also made the sport much safer.
      Among his safety breakthroughs were a roof-mounted escape hatch which made it easier for drivers to escape a fire.
      He also created a fire-suppression system that allowed drivers to extinguish a fire without removing their hand from the steering wheel.
      Schumacher had a battle with cancer in 2015, but was able to return to the track which thrilled drivers.
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      “This is the best therapy,” Antron Brown, one of Schumacher’s’ drivers said.
      “You can see the smile on his face and the joy in his heart for being part of this sport of NHRA drag racing.”
      Schumacher shared how much drag racing meant to him after returning from his first cancer battle.
      “I love what I do, and I will continue to do what I do,” Schumacher said after his return.
      “I’m a businessman, and that’s what I do. I love racing. I love the sport of NHRA. I love my businesses. I love my family. I love what I do in life.”
      NHRA announcer Alan Reinhart shared how much of a legend Schumacher was on Twitter.
      “Even though he has scaled back his personal involvement the last few years, this is a tremendous blow,” Reinhart wrote.
      “His influence will be felt for generations to come. And the company he built will continue to supply the sport.”
      More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun online. The-Sun.com is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @TheUSSun.
      Schumacher’s cars won 362 Wally trophiesCredit: Getty More

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      Michael Schumacher update as ‘strong’ wife Corinna has his family ‘carrying on the way he would have wanted’

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      MICHAEL Schumacher’s pal has said his wife is carrying on the way he would have wanted despite the “huge void” left by his horror ski crash.The racing icon has not been seen in public since his accident in the French Alps in 2013, and very little is known about his condition.
      Michael Schumacher with Johnny Herbert, former F1 driver and teammate, 1995Credit: Getty
      Michael Schumacher poses with his wife Corinna on a piste in 2003Credit: Alamy
      Mick Schumacher, 24, followed his father onto the race trackCredit: PA
      Speaking to Grosvenor Sport, former F1 driver and Schumacher’s teammate Johnny Herbert revealed how the family are coping almost ten years on.
      Despite the “huge void” left by the 2013 horror crash, Herbert described Schumacher’s wife Corinna as “very strong”.
      He said: “She [Corinna] has 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.”      
      READ MORE ON SCHUMACHER
      Seven-time world champion Schumacher, 54, suffered catastrophic injuries in the devastating accident while on a skiing holiday.
      December 29 will mark ten years since the racing icon, largely considered to be the best driver in Formula One history, suffered the crash that left him in a coma for over 200 days.
      Corinna, has protected the privacy of her husband to such an extent that only their immediate family, and closest of friends know any details.
      Mick, 24, has followed his father’s footsteps onto the F1 track.
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      Herbert revealed that Corinna has been a “huge support” for him as he pursues racing.
      But he added that sadly, Mick has never been able to talk to his dad for advice about the profession.
      “Mick has said he could always talk to Michael about racing before the accident,” Herbert said.
      “Michael would have been a big help and that father son relationship would have been a very beneficial thing for Mick.
      “But Mick never had that unfortunately. He just had that relationship up until the skiing accident.”
      Herbert remembered the accident as a huge shock for everyone close to the Schumacher family.
      He and his wife were friends with the couple in the 1990s and he described Schumacher as a dedicated and innovative athlete in the field.
      “Michael Schumacher was a fitness fanatic… He always reminded me a lot of Bruce Lee when he was doing all his acting.
      “That was something quite new. He knew he had to be fit to perform as he did in those sprint performances and his fitness levels gave him that advantage.
      “He changed the physical and mental side of how drivers prepare. He was always aware of the science that was advancing with fitness.”
      Herbert described his friend fondly as determined and driven, and said “it would be lovely just to have him back”.
      It comes as Formula One’s boss said he wouldn’t wish Schumacher’s condition on his “worst enemy”.
      F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali used to work with Schumacher, now 54, at Ferrari and gave a heartbreaking update.
      “It seems like yesterday his accident in Meribel, they are episodes that change your life,” he told La Gazetta dello Sport.
      “Out of respect for him and his family we must stay close to him, this difficult situation remains.
      “What is between me and the family remains private, but living like this for ten years is something you would never wish even on your worst enemy.”
      And the racing star’s ex-manager says he has no “hope” of seeing the F1 legend again.
      Willi Weber revealed that he had received no good news after allegedly being shut out of the racing star’s life for the last 10 years.
      Read more on The Sun
      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.”
      Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali, pictured right during his time at Ferrari, said he wouldn’t wish the Schumacher’s condition on his worst enemyCredit: Getty
      Michael Schumacher’s long-term manager Willi Weber does not believe he will ever see him againCredit: Alamy More

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      Max Verstappen snubbed for Dutch Sports Personality of the Year despite record-breaking F1 season

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN missed out on winning Dutch Sports Personality of the Year despite landing the Formula One championship in a record-breaking season.The Red Bull superstar won 19 out of 22 races to win the championship for a third successive year.
      Max Verstappen’s F1 championship victory was not enough to win the Dutch Personality of the Year awardCredit: PA
      Cycling Mathieu van der Poel won the award for a second timeCredit: AFP
      He won ten races in a row from May to September – a feat unmatched by any driver in F1 history.
      Verstappen, 26, also set a record points total of 575.
      But the world champion has been overlooked by the Dutch public, who voted cyclist Mathieu van der Poel as their Sports Personality of the Year.
      The 28-year-old had an astonishing season with victories in prestigious one-day races including Paris-Roubaix and Milan-San Remo.
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      Van der Poel topped off his year by winning the Road World Championships in Glasgow, beating two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar.
      He even crashed inside the final 20 kilometres and damaged his shoe before clinging on for victory.
      The Dutchman also had to stop mid-race for a poo in a stranger’s house.
      Van der Poel began his year by winning the Cylco-cross World Championship for a fifth time after defeating long-term rival Wout van Aert, who also finished second behind the Dutchman in Glasgow.
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      Verstappen has been named Dutch Sports Personality the previous two years following his F1 championship wins.
      Van der Poel has now equalled his haul after also picking up the award in 2019 following his incredible win in the Amstel Gold Race – Holland’s biggest cycling race.
      Fans were delighted to see Van der Poel claim the award with one saying: “Max had the greatest ever season in F1 history and yet MvdP was the best Dutch athlete this year. Speaks volumes. Elite riding.”
      Another added: “No brainer!”
      While a third joked: “A man who drives a machine versus a man who is a machine. No contest!” More