Family friend exposes 'consequences' of Michael Schumacher mystery
Michael Schumacher's former Ferrari boss has offered a new update on the F1 legend's mysterious health battle, claiming that wife Corinna has “willed him to survive”, but with consequences.
Schumacher, 52, suffered catastrophic head injuries in a skiing accident in the Swiss Alps in 2013.
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His family has been notoriously secretive about his condition in the years since, with updates few and far between.
But FIA president and former Ferrari boss Jean Todt has been visiting Schumacher regularly and providing snippets of information.
In his latest update, Todt credits the work of doctors, medical specialists and Schumacher's wife for keeping the motorsport great alive.
The Frenchman says the devotion of the 52-year-old's wife Corinna has been crucial, and while Schumacher's recovery has been painfully slow, his loved still retain hope that his condition will improve over time.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with Corinna since Michael had his serious skiing accident on December 29, 2013. She is a great woman and runs the family," Todt told German publication Bild.
“She hadn’t expected that. It happened suddenly and she had no choice. But she does it very well. I trust her, she trusts me.
"Thanks to the work of his doctors and the co-operation of Corinna, who willed him to survive, he survived — but with consequences.
“And right now you are fighting the consequences. We hope that things will slowly but surely improve.”
Respected neurosurgeon Erich Riederer last year revealed that Schumacher was in a "vegetative state", meaning he was "awake but not responding".
According to top neurosurgeon Dr Nicola Acciari, Schumacher suffers from osteoporosis and muscle atrophy - brought about by inactivity in his body following the 2013 accident.
“The goal is to regenerate Michael’s nervous system," Dr Acciari said about the German's treatment.
Schumacher won five consecutive World Drivers’ Championships under Todt’s leadership from 2000 to 2004.
Late last year Todt revealed that Schumacher is “still fighting”.
“I’m always careful with such statements, but it’s true," Todt said.
“Michael is in the best hands and is well looked after in his house. He does not give up and keeps fighting.
“His family is fighting just as much and of course our friendship cannot be the same as it once was just because there’s no longer the same communication as before.”
Corinna Schumacher's $4.4 million move
The Schumacher update comes after his wife Corinna reportedly paid $4.4 million for a plot of land in Majorca in May, near the mansion she is rumoured to have bought from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez in 2017.
According to local newspaper Diario de Mallorca, Corrina Schumacher bought the 13-acre plot to “raise and ride horses on”.
Schumacher’s daughter Gina, 24, is an equestrian and horse riding fanatic, while Corinna won the European Championship in western-style horse riding in 2010.
Gina’s boyfriend Iain Bethke is also a keen show jumper.
The land is reportedly in Puerto Andratx - near a $50 million property Corinna is said to have bought from Perez in 2017.
“The objective is to raise and ride around 20 horses on it, as Michael Schumacher’s daughter is a keen equestrian," the publication reported.
“Stables for the horses, that will be transferred from Switzerland, will be built on it.
“The intention is for Gina to practice her favourite sport in Majorca, as the idea is that the family will increase their number of trips to the island, especially in winter.”
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