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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.
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      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.
      read more in SCHUMACHER’S LIFE
      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.
      Most read in Motorsport
      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.
      Read more on The Sun
      “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.
      read more in schumacher’s life
      “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.
      Most read in Motorsport
      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.
      Read more on The Sun
      “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

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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.
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      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