F1

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

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.
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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

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.”      
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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

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