Former Ferrari boss Jean Todt has announced that he visited Michael Schumacher last week, and says the seven-time F1 champion is struggling to overcome the devastating injuries he sustained in a skiing accident in 2013.
Todt, who oversaw five of Schumacher’s driver championships at Ferrari, is one of a handful of people who have access to the 51-year-old in his house on Lake Geneva.
Schumacher’s condition has been a closely guarded secret as his family remains determined to respect his privacy.
But Todt, 74, offered positive news after his visit. “I saw Michael last week. He’s fighting, “Todt told the PA news agency.
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“My God, we know that he had a terrible and unfortunate skiing accident that caused him a lot of problems. But he has a great wife next to him, he has his children, his nurses, and we can only wish him the best and the best for his family too. “
“All I can do is be close to them until I can do something, and then I’ll do it,” he added.
Todt also spent time with Schumacher in July and left in the hope that “the world can see him again”.
“That is what he and his family are working towards,” said Todt at the time.
A leading neurosurgeon claimed earlier this year that the German was “very changed” after a severe brain injury.
He reportedly underwent stem cell therapy in Paris in 2019 and continues to receive private treatment at his home.
Schumacher is getting closer to the opportunity to watch his son Mick follow in his footsteps in Formula 1.
Mick Schumacher will drive a Ferrari at the Tuscan Grand Prix this weekend as the glamor outfit celebrates its 1000th race.
Mick will drive the F2004, the car that his father drove to his seventh world title, in “a fitting tribute to the Scuderia’s most successful car and its incomparable driver”.
Mick is currently taking a step below the top level in F2, but is being watched by several teams for 2021 and beyond.
However, he won’t arrive in time to prevent Lewis Hamilton from breaking all of his father’s records.
Hamilton will move up within a race win from Schumacher’s overall record of 91 with a win in Tuscany and is on track to hit his record of seven world championships in 2020.
“Lewis will beat all of Michael’s records simply because he’s a very talented driver,” said Todt. “He is motivated and drives for the best team. He has the best car, the best engine, so all the ingredients are there.
“We thought the records would be very hard to beat, but a long period of regulation stability helped them.”
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