Flavio Briatore has reportedly given a rare insight into Michael Schumacher's condition, 12 years after the Formula 1 legend's horrific skiing accident.
Back in December 2013, the world of F1 was shaken to its core after news emerged that seven-time world champion Schumacher was hospitalised due to a serious accident while skiing.
At the time, the former Ferrari driver was airlifted to the hospital, where he was placed in a medically induced coma until June 2014.
Since the accident took place, very few to zero updates have been given on the German's condition as his family chose to keep the details private.
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As reported by the Daily Mail, Briatore, who was in charge of the Benetton team when Schumacher won his first two world titles, appeared to confirm that the F1 great is bed-bound.
He said to Corriere della Sera: "If I close my eyes. I see him smiling after a victory.
"I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed. Corinna (Schumacher's wife) and I talk often, though."
Briatore's ex-wife, Elisabetta Gregoraci previously said: "Michael doesn't speak, he communicates with his eyes.
"Only three people can visit him and I know who they are."
Former FIA president and Ferrari team boss Jean Todt said back in 2023: "Michael is here, so I don't miss him. [But he] is simply not the Michael he used to be. He is different, and is wonderfully guided by his wife and children who protect him.
His life is different now and I have the privilege of sharing moments with him. That's all there is to say. Unfortunately, fate struck him ten years ago. He is no longer the Michael we knew in Formula 1."
Meanwhile, Schumacher's son, Mick, who last raced in F1 for Haas, added: "I was a crazy kid – everything my dad did, I did.
"He was really supportive and a lot of fun, but could also be challenging. One time in a karting race I braked very late going into a corner and gained a lot of time. When I told him about it, he said, 'Yes, but you should have braked like that in every corner!' I definitely learned a lot of technical points from him that I still use today, as well as from his coaching. And I have always been very resilient."
Topics: Michael Schumacher, Formula 1
Marcus Chan