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Michael Schumacher latest: Former rival Jean Alesi says F1 star showed signs of improvement on recent hospital visit ‘I felt a relief among his family, a great happiness’

The former champion has been in a medically induced coma since 29 December after a skiing accident in France

Jenn Selby
Thursday 10 April 2014 17:18 BST
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Michael Schumacher’s family are notably relieved and feeling “great happiness” after the ex-F1 star showed considerable signs of improvement on a recent hospital visit, says his former track rival Jean Alesi.

The seven-time world champion has been in a medically induced coma since 29 December, after his head collided with a rock in a terrible skiing accident in the resort of Meribel in France.

Speaking to motorsports magazine Speedweek, Alesi reported that Schumacher appeared to be getting better.

“During my last visit I noticed something had improved,” he said.

“I felt a relief among his family, a great happiness at how things were developing. That is brilliant - even if the road back is still a long one.”

There were fears that Schumacher may never be awoken, but his manager, Sabine Kehm, put his fans’ concerns to rest when she confirmed that he is showing “ moments of consciousness and awakening” in an official statement last month.

“Michael is making progress on his way. He shows moments of consciousness and awakening,” she said.

“We are on his side during his long and difficult fight, together with the team of the hospital in Grenoble and we keep remaining confident.”

Alesi’s news comes after current F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel paid tribute to Schumacher ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend.

“It is very good to hear it's going in the right direction,” he said.

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