Michael Schumacher is on the news again when his son, Mick, captured the Formula 2 title just over a week ago. The older Schumacher has been out of the public eye since figuring on a devastating skiing accident in December 2013. To date, his health status is unknown and fans are wondering how Schumacher is doing.
The last confirmed update on the seven-time world racing champion described him as paralyzed after slipping out of a coma in 2014. From the hospital, the German was transferred to his home in Switzerland, where he continues to receive treatment. He is also undergoing rehabilitation.
Jean Todt, Schumacher's friend and former boss at Ferrari, provided a glimpse of the F1 legend's condition, according to Express. The Frenchman held back in details but assured that his pal is fighting to regain much of his old health.
Todt claimed that even while Schumacher is being treated, the athlete is conscious and is monitoring the progress of Mick's racing career. It was unclear if the father was aware of his son's recent step up to Formula 1 but Todt insisted Schumacher watches the race on TV when he can.
Things have changed for the Schumacher family after the accident but the former Ferrari team principal stressed the family is focused on one thing - to continue fighting and get Schumacher on track to full recovery.
As Schumacher's family opted to keep his health status a private matter, the athlete's fans are left with no choice but to rely on experts' opinions to make sense of his condition. Doctors said cases similar to the driving champion's condition normally resulted in a vegetative state.
The assessment pictures the 51-year-old as possibly half-conscious but not necessarily responsive. Schumacher may be breathing on his own and making some form of movements but the Schumacher that impressed the racing world would be difficult to summon again, the experts suggested in previous reports.
That much Todt can confirm following his recent visit to Switzerland, The Sun reported. The 74-year-old said Schumacher's accident resulted in significant changes and the F1 icon is never the same state that he was prior to the incident.
It appears that in treating Schumacher, the realistic goal is to enable the patient to live a normal life.
"We all know that Michael had a very serious accident and, unfortunately, it had significant consequences for him ... Since then, he has been treated so that he can be able to return to a more normal life," explained the FIA president.
And Todt made clear that expecting Schumacher to be his old self again is not realistic.
