Michael Schumacher 'there but not there' in major update about F1 legend

Michael Schumacher's former F1 boss Eddie Jordan has revealed the stricken legend is "there but not there" in a major revelation about his mysterious condition. Schumacher suffered devastating head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013.

However his condition has remained a closely-guarded secret in the years that have followed, with his family limiting the number of people who can visit him. One such person who has been denied the chance to see Schumacher is Jordan, who handed a then 22-year-old Schumacher his F1 debut at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1991.

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In a new interview with sports betting firm OLBG, Jordan has revealed how Schumacher's son Mick reached out to him and provided some new details about his father's health. Mick made his debut in F1 in 2021 with Haas, but has since been dumped and will serve as a reserve driver for Mercedes in 2023.

Mick opened up to Jordan about his struggles in F1 and spoke in glowing terms about Michael. "It touched me because I felt so much about Michael, I went out of my way to find him, give him his first chance in Spa, didn't last very long but that love for him still lasts and will always do so while I'm able to draw breaths," Jordan said.

"As far as I'm concerned, I was touched by it. And the reason I was touched by it was because it can't be easy knowing that your father is not able to be part of the family, he's there but he's not there."

Jordan said he was denied after asking Schumacher's wife Corinna if he could pay him a visit. "I reached out and one stage asked was it appropriate and did I think we should go and visit him," he said.

"The answer was no. No visitations for anyone at that moment except the actual direct family.

"However, since then, young Mick Schumacher - Michael's son - has reached out to me, and he has been extraordinary."

Jordan also made the staggering revelation that Mick is actually named after Aussie motorcycle champion Mick Doohan. He said: "Mick Schumacher isn't named after his dad like a lot of people seem to think.

"Mick Schumacher is named after a person who his father, Michael, was in total awe of, a sportsman who had won five world titles back to back with Honda. And that is no other than Mick Doohan. As a mark of respect, Michael Schumacher called his son Mick."

Mystery surrounds Michael Schumacher's health

One person outside of Schumacher's family who has been allowed to visit him is former Ferrari boss and FIA president Jean Todt. A close friend of Schumacher and his family, Todt has been providing snippets of information to the public over the last few years.

“I don’t miss Michael [because] I see him,” Todt said in an interview with German TV channel RTL last year. “Yes, it’s true, I watch races with Michael. But sure, I guess what I miss is what we used to do together.”

In 2020, Todt said Schumacher is "still fighting". He added: “I’m always careful with such statements, but it’s true. 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.”

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