Legend is a label that is too easily applied, but in the case of Michael Schumacher it is not to be used lightly. Recent voted the Number One Ferrari Grand Prix driver by readers of F1 Magazine, Schumacher is remembered as the many who brought the Scuderia back to the front after years languishing in the Formula One midfield, and also for the horrific skiing accident that left him comatose in 2013, after he had retired from the sport for the second time.
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With seven World Championship titles to his name – five of those with Ferrari – and a record 91 Grand Prix victories, Schumacher rallied the Tifosi in the early years of the 21st century with some simply stunning performances, and also brought a new level of commitment and dedication to Formula One.
Tragedy on the Slopes
An experienced and highly competent skier, Schumacher suffered a freak accident when skiing off-piste in the French Alps in December 2013. The head injuries he suffered were severe, and as the Schumacher family made the difficult decision to undertake treatment and recovery in private, news of his condition tends to be scarce and, in general, unconfirmed.
Reports in the UK press quote current FIA President Jean Todt, the Team Principal at Ferrari during the Schumacher years and a friend of both the man and his family, as stating that Michael is ‘still fighting’. Todt was speaking at the FIA Hall of Fame presentation on Monday, at which many legends of the sport were present.
It is known that Schumacher was placed in an induced coma, and that he has long-since emerged, in order to help deal with serious blood clots on the brain. He is treated at the family home in Switzerland, where only very close family have access to him.
A Life-Long Legacy
Although actual news on his condition is rarely forthcoming, Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm was at the Hall of Fame event, representing the great man and his family. She said:
“What made Michael so special, what made him so successful, was the love of the sport, and that connects him with everyone here.”
Michael Schumacher fans the world over remain in hope that this great champion can show the resolve and spirit he had when racing, and overcome the injuries that have resulted in his present condition.
