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Michael Schumacher tweet saddens F1 fans on 10-year anniversary

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Michael Schumacher, pictured here in action in F1.
Michael Schumacher's team has marked the 10-year anniversary of his final race in F1. Image: Twitter/Getty

Michael Schumacher's team has sent a message of thanks to his legion of fans on the 10-year anniversary of his final race in F1. Schumacher, 53, suffered catastrophic head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013.

His family has been notoriously private about his condition in the years that have followed, with details and updates around his health extremely scarce. But on Friday his team made the rare move of posting on his official Twitter account.

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Marking the 10-year anniversary of his final race in Formula One, Schumacher's official account tweeted a quote from the man that occurred on the day. “Life is about passions. Thank you for sharing mine," the tweet reads.

"Michael’s message to his fellow motorsport fans when saying farewell to F1," the tweet continues. "#TeamMichael #KeepFighting."

The tweet was accompanied by three photos - one of Schumacher's helmet, one of him inside his car and another with his pit crew. The photo of Schumacher in his car shows the words 'Thank you, Goodbye Michael' on the outside.

Fans reacted to the tweet by sending their well-wishes, while some expressed their sadness over the awful plight experienced by the F1 legend.

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FIA president and former Ferrari boss Jean Todt has been visiting Schumacher regularly and providing snippets of information to the public. “I don’t miss Michael, I see him,” Todt said in an interview with German TV channel RTL in July.

“Yes, it’s true, I watch races with Michael. But sure, I guess what I miss is what we used to do together.”

Schumacher won five consecutive World Drivers’ Championships under Todt’s leadership from 2000 to 2004. In 2020, 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.”

Michael Schumacher's wife Corinna and daughter Gina, pictured here with Jean Todt.
Michael Schumacher's wife Corinna and daughter Gina with Jean Todt. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

The secrecy has angered Schumacher's former manager Willi Weber, who recently levelled some staggering allegations against the F1 legend's family. In July, Weber claimed he hasn't been allowed to visit Schumacher since his near-fatal accident.

“I tried hundreds of times to contact (wife) Corinna and she didn’t answer,” the 80-year-old said. “I called Jean Todt to ask him if I should go to the hospital and he told me to wait – it’s too early.

“I called the next day and no one answered. I didn’t expect behaviour like that and I’m still angry about it. They kept me out, telling me it’s too early, well now it’s too late. It’s been nine years. Maybe they should just say it the way it is.

“I could understand the situation initially as I always did everything I could for Michael to protect his private life. But since then we have only heard lies from them. Years after the accident, I said to myself to just look out for the family as I couldn't change things. He was like a son to me. Even today it hurts me to talk about it."

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