Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher suffered a severe brain trauma following a skiing accident in 2013 in the resort of Meribel, France. His family, including wife Corrina, kept his condition and treatment a closely guarded secret after he spent a year in a coma, with only close friends and associates aware of his recovery. But on the eve of Michael’s 50th birthday, the legend’s former boss Ross Brawn says he has been in “constant touch” with the Ferrari driver’s family and has been one of a handful of people allowed regular access to the star.
Michael has been receiving private treatment at the family home located near Lake Geneva in Switzerland, which is estimated at around £50,000 a week, while updates on his health have been kept away from public knowledge.
Some asked whether the Grand Prix legend’s condition should have been made public by his family, including his former manager Will Weber in 2017.
Mr Weber said: “I find it very unfortunate that Michael’s fans do not know about his health. “Why are they not being told the truth?”
But Mr Brawn, who was Ferrari’s manager between 1997 and 2006, says the star’s family were right to have kept the world championship winning driver’s health away from the public eye.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Mr Brawn, 64, said: “I am constantly in touch with Corinna, and I totally agree with their decision,” he told Press Association Sport.
“Michael has always been a very private person and that’s been a guiding principle in his career, his life and his family always agreed with that choice.
“It’s completely understandable that Corinna has wanted to maintain the same approach, even after the tragic event, and it’s a decision we must all respect. I’m sure the millions of people who are still Michael fans will understand it, too.”
Michael won two titles with Benetton before winning a record-breaking five world titles with Ferrari., winning a massive 91 Grand Prix’s in his career.
But after surpassing Schumacher’s pole position tally in 2017, Lewis Hamilton is now only 18 wins and two championships away.
Mr Brawn, who is now the acting head of motorsport at Formula 1, said: “Lewis is certainly capable of matching and surpassing Michael’s other records,” added Brawn, now acting as the head of motorsport for F1.
“There’s no doubt that Lewis and Michael are amazingly talented. In fact, it’s their natural talent that unites them. The way in which they achieved their wins is where they differ.
“Michael treated his driving career as though it was a mission to which he dedicated himself completely from the first to the last day. In some ways, Lewis has taken longer to find his way, and today it seems he has found that way more from outside the sport than from inside it.”
His comments come just days before the racing legend turns 50 on Thursday. Ferrari will honour the superstar on his birthday by launching a special exhibition at the company’s headquarters in Maranello, northern Italy.