Motorsport

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.
Most read in Motorsport
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.
READ MORE IN SPORT
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.
Most read in Motorsport
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
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

FORMULA 1 stars got into the festive spirit by taking part in Secret Santa with their fellow drivers.And Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas received a particularly cracking gift from Max Verstappen.
Valtteri Bottas checks out his presentCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
The Finn, 34, received an art book featuring snaps of his own backsideCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Each driver was randomly assigned one of their competitors to buy a gift for.
When reigning world champion Verstappen got Bottas, he decided to be creative.
Bottas, 34, raised $150,000 (£118k) with his “Bottass 2024″ calendar last month, in which he bared his backside in each picture.
For his gift to the Finn, Verstappen made a book entitled ” A simply lovely look at butts in art”.
READ MORE IN F1
The Dutchman wrote “have a cracking Christmas” on the inside cover, with each page featuring Bottas’ naked rear edited onto existing classic art works.
Bottas giggled as he flicked through the pages, admitting that it was “really creative”.
He then guessed that the calendar was from Verstappen at the attempt.
The world champion himself received a mini retro arcade game from Carlos Sainz.
Most read in Motorsport
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Max Verstappen opens up his retro arcade gameCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Zhou Guanyu received a second copy of Bottas’ calendarCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
While Alfa Romeo ace Zhou Guanyu received a copy of his team-mate’s calendar from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc…. only to reveal that he’d already got one.
Fernando Alonso was bought a captain’s hat from Aston Martin team-mate Lance Stroll, after buying a boat in Monaco over the summer.
While Stroll was gifted a beanie hat from Yuki Tsunoda in order to combat the cold Canadian winter.
The Japanese star, 23, gratefully opened a Chinese cookbook and apron from Zhou – gushing over his favourite dishes and saying he’d definitely give making them a go.
Leclerc, who was given Bottas’ calendar back by Zhou, actually really loved his own present from Alonso.
The veteran Spaniard, 42, bought him a padel racquet – with Leclerc keen to give him a game.
Nico Hulkenberg opted to poke fun at Pierre Gasly’s “Tripod” nickname… by buying the Frenchman one.
The German, 36, was then gifted a mug with a yawning emoji on it from Esteban Ocon, sharing that the duo often to send that emoji to each other on WhatsApp.
Fernando Alonso dons his new captain’s hatCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Lance Stroll was also bought some new headwearCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Yuki Tsunoda checks out his Chinese apronCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Charles Leclerc loved his new padel racquetCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Pierre Gasly is nicknamed ‘Tripod’ on the gridCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Nico Hulkenberg loves a yawning emojiCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Ocon, 27, received a trio of Spiderman-themed presents from George Russell – getting a travel pillow, wash bag and a “very nice” drinks bottle.
Russell himself got a bouncy toy from Hulkenberg, joking he liked it enough to keep it for at least a “couple of hours” before chucking it away.
Kevin Magnussen welcomed his second baby daughter with wife Louise, named Agnes, to the world earlier this year.
Logan Sargeant fittingly bought him a T-shirt for his little girl, with the slogan “Shhh… I’m watching racing with daddy” written on it.
He then added a Lonely Planet guide to great US road trips.
Lando Norris bought American Sargeant a Miami Heat-themed mini basketball hoop.
The McLaren star then received a tiny golf-themed gift from Pierre Gasly, but insisted “I like it!”
Esteban Ocon opened a trio of Spiderman-themed giftsCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
George Russell pledged to keep his gift for at least ‘two hours’Credit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Kevin Magnussen received a T-shirt for his baby daughterCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Logan Sargeant can shoot hoops into his mini basketCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Lando Norris was given a tiny gift by GaslyCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Alex Albon was bought six personalised golf balls by Oscar Piastri, calling it the “best gift I’ve ever received in my life”.
While Aussie Piastri received a Koala T-shirt and some chocolate from Daniel Ricciardo, the man he replaced at McLaren.
Ricciardo himself was gifted some limited edition tequila from Mexican Sergio Perez.
The Red Bull ace welcomed a baby daughter in September, and was bought a Williams teddy bear and T-shirt by Albon, who also got him some green trainers.
Sainz was bought a pair of pink Budgy Smugglers with chillies on them, immediately guessing them to be from Bottas.
He was also given a series of spicy sauces.
Read more on The Sun
Absent from the festivities was Mercedes superstar Lewis Hamilton.
The seven-time world champion curiously did not feature in the video.
Alex Albon loved his personalised golf ballsCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Oscar Piastri received an Aussie-themed T-shirtCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Daniel Ricciardi has some limited edition Mexican tequila stored awayCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Sergio Perez also got some new baby gear for his new-born daughterCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1
Carlos Sainz received a spicy gift from BottasCredit: YouTube / @FORMULA 1 More

MICHAEL Schumacher’s ex-manager says he has no “hope” of seeing the F1 legend again.Willi Weber revealed that he had received “no positive news” after allegedly being shut out of the racing star’s life for the last 10 years.
Michael Schumacher’s long-term manager Willi Weber does not believe he will ever see him againCredit: Alamy
Weber is often credited with discovering Schumacher in 1989Credit: Getty
Very little is known about the 54-year-old’s health which has become a closely-guarded secretCredit: Getty – Contributor
Schumacher, 54, considered by many to be the greatest driver in Formula One history, hasn’t been seen in public since his devastating skiing accident in 2013.
December 29 will mark a decade since the racer suffered a horrific ski accident in the French Alps that left him in a medically-induced coma for 250 days.
Ever since, any information about the state of his condition has been a closely-guarded secret kept by his privacy-focused family led by wife Corinna.
The long-term manager of the seven-time F1 champion, Weber, 81, has now opened up about how never believes he will see his former protégé again.
read more on schumacher
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 Schumacher 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.”
Most read in Motorsport
After three or four years of allegedly being shut out of Schumacher’s life, Weber said: “For me it was clear: ‘Well, now it’s over. This crap needs to get out of my head'”.
Back in 2017, Weber extraordinarily accused the racing legend’s family of not being honest to the public about the Schumacher’s condition.
 “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.
“I called Jean Todt to ask him if I should go to the hospital and he told me to wait – it’s too early.
“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.”
Weber has been credited with discovering Schumacher in 1989 when he signed him up to his F3 team.
He has previously said that the racing great was “like a son to me”.
It comes as Schumacher’s close friend and former boss Jean Todt revealed the F1 veteran “is no longer the Michael we knew”.
“Michael is here, so I don’t miss him,” he told French paper L’Equipe in a recent interview.
“He’s just not the Michael he used to be,” the ex-Ferrari and FIA boss 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.”
Last month, Schumacher’s F1 pal Mark Blundell shared heartbreaking regrets over the racing legend’s tragic skiing accident.
The former McLaren driver, who called Schumacher “ruthless and brilliant”, said he hopes the Ferrari racer is fit enough to understand the sport.
Blundell, 57, raced in Formula One and competed against the German legend in the 90s.
Speaking to OLBG, he said: “At the end of the day, what happened to him was incredibly difficult to take.
Read more on The Sun
“I don’t know where we are today with Michael’s health as he’s rightly guarded.
“He’s still around, and hopefully he understands what’s going on. That would be a plus. It’s very difficult.”
Schumacher was skiing with his son, Mick, when he suffered a devastating head injuryCredit: AFP
The pair worked together for decades up until 2012Credit: Alamy More