Michael Schumacher 'still fighting' after ski accident four years ago, says FIA president Jean Todt

Seven-time Formula One world champion continues to recover at his family home in Switzerland

Jack de Menezes
Wednesday 06 December 2017 16:53 GMT
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Michael Schumacher continues to be treated at his home in Geneva
Michael Schumacher continues to be treated at his home in Geneva (AFP)

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FIA president and former Ferrari team principle Jean Todt has said that seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher is “still fighting” after honouring the stricken German at a Hall of Fame ceremony in Paris.

The 48-year-old suffered serious head injuries in a skiing accident while on holiday at the exclusive Meribel resort on 29 December 2013, and had to be treated at both the Grenoble University Hospital and in Lausanne before being transferred back to his home near Geneva in September 2014, where he remains after having a state of the art clinic installed in the family home.

Medical updates on Schumacher’s condition have been few and far between, but friends of his have visited him during his recovery and Todt, who worked with Schumacher throughout his five world title victories with Ferrari, took the chance to speak about Schumacher at Monday’s FIA Hall of Fame awards ceremony.

"We miss Michael,” Todt said. “He's there, still fighting. A fight is going on. Michael is someone very special, someone special for motorsport. He's special to me, he's a friend.”

Any changes in Schumacher’s condition have been kept confidential by his former manager, Sabine Kehm, who is now the spokeswoman for the family. Kehm attended the Hall of Fame awards on behalf of Schumacher, who was one of the 33 world champions honoured at the ceremony.

“We all know that Michael should be here, and I'm sure he would have loved to,” she said.

“He always had the utmost respect for everyone in this round, he would be very honoured.

“What made Michael so special, what made him so successful, that was the love of the sport.

“And that connects him with everyone here.”

Schumacher remains the most successful driver in F1 history, with his tally of seven world titles and 91 grand prix victories still existing records in the sport.

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