Six years after suffering serious head trauma during a skiing holiday, Michael Schumacher's medical condition remains shrouded in secrecy with only a select few having access to the world champion racer. In a rare update on the injured driver, FIA president Jean Todt reported that Schumacher is still "fighting."
Todt, who was Schumacher's boss with Ferrari, revealed on Saturday that he had a recent call on the iconic German. The visit, which happened last week, convinced the FIA chief that his friend is in a fighting mood.
"I saw Michael last week ... He is fighting. I hope the world will be able to see him again," the Frenchman told The Daily Mail.
Schumacher figured in an accident in 2013 in the Swiss Alps and suffered head injuries that, according to reports, left the former world champion paralyzed. However, his health status has been largely unknown since then, as the Schumacher family made great efforts to protect the privacy of the 51-year-old German.
Todt appeared optimistic about his friend's full recovery as he allowed: "That is what he and his family are working towards."
There have been rumors that Schumacher will soon undergo a stem cell surgery, but per the same report, citing an unidentified source, the procedure is unlikely at the moment given the risk that the coronavirus pandemic could bring to the patient.
The exact health condition of Schumacher has been largely unknown since the tragic accident nearly seven years ago, but a neurosurgeon offered a glimpse of what to expect in the aftermath of serious head injuries.
According to Yahoo Sports, Nicola Acciari is expecting that the sportsman has changed completely "as a result of the brain trauma he suffered."
The expert explained that fans should expect drastic transformation from the Schumacher of the past and warned that there would be obvious declines on the driver's overall health.
"We must imagine a person very different from the one we remember on the track, with a very altered and deteriorated organic, muscular and skeletal structure," Acciari was reported as saying.
The image painted is quite remote from the glorious days of Schumacher that saw him conquering the world's race tracks, first as part of Mercedes and then with Ferrari under Todt. The German was instrumental in making the Ferrari brand winner again in the Formula 1 circuit while working closely with Todt.
Schumacher captured the World Drivers' Championships in five straight years from 2000 to 2004 while racing under the Ferrari banner and with Todt running the team. The partnership resulted in the two men developing a strong bond with Todt regarding the German as his son.
