MICHAEL Schumacher’s former boss has given rare insight into the F1 legend’s condition – 12 years after the skiing accident that changed his life.
While the German seven-time world champion, now 56, hasn’t been seen in public since 2013, his Benetton manager says he speaks often with Schumacher’s family.
Flavio Briatore, 75, led the Benetton F1 team during Schumacher’s breakthrough years, playing a key role in his first two world championships.
Briatore appeared to confirm to an Italian newspaper that Schumacher is bed-bound, amid scarce details of his condition due to the family’s commitment to privacy.
“If I close my eyes,”; he told Corriere della Sera, “I see him smiling after a victory.
“I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed. Corinna and I talk often, though.”;
Briatore’s update follows a , who said: “Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes.
“Only three people can visit him and I know who they are.”;
Claims that Schumacher can no longer speak were echoed by his son Mick in a 2021 documentary about his father’s life.
The 26-year-old driver said: “I think dad and me, we would understand each other now in a different way now.”;
In the 2021 documentary, Corinna gave a rare update, revealing Schumacher is still undergoing rehabilitation and is following his life-changing injuries.
In April, Schumacher with help from Corinna.
The helmet will be auctioned to raise for Stewart’s Against .
Johnny Herbert, Schumacher’steammate at Benetton between 1994 to 1995, as an “emotional”; moment.
He toldFastSlots: “It’s wonderfulnewsthatMichael Schumachersigned‘s helmet. It was a wonderful moment.
“We haven’t seen something emotional like this in years, and hopefully, it’s a sign.
“Hopefully, Michael is on the mend. It’s been a long, horrible journey for the family, and maybe we’ll hopefully see him in the F1 paddock soon.”;
Schumacher is one of the most successful F1 drivers of all time, winning world titles in 1994, 1995 and five consecutive years from 2000 to 2004.
He also racked up 71 fastest laps and 155 podiums during his racing career.
When asked who the greatest driver of all time is, Briatore told Corriere de Sera: “I don’t know who the greatest is, because we’ve had Schumacher, Senna, Alonso.
“Now, the number one is definitely (Max) Verstappen. I have two at Alpine, so I would like to have two Verstappens.”;
