Haunting new interview with Michael Schumacher released
The family of Michael Schumacher have released a previously unseen interview with the F1 legend, filmed two months before his life-changing skiing accident.
Schumacher suffered devastating head injuries while skiing in the Swiss Alps in 2013, with news about his condition extremely rare ever since.
But on Thursday, a never-before-seen interview with the seven-time world champion was posted on his official website.
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In the interview the racing star answers 10 questions about his life in F1, his racing idols and which of his opponents he respected the most.
The 49-year-old crashed while on holiday in December 2013, with his family remaining highly private ever since.
The new video interview is dated October 30, 2013 – just weeks before the tragic incident in Meribel.
Speaking in the interview, Schumacher said: “21 years no championship with Ferrari, four years myself failing, then finally, in a great race, to achieve it, win the world championship.
“The most respected guy in all those years was definitely Mika Hakkinen. Great fights, but stable private relationship.
“In the young days of karting, I looked around and yes I saw Ayrton Senna or Vincenzo Sospiri, but my real idol was Toni Schumacher [former Germany international goalkeeper and no relation] because he was a great soccer player.”
He added: “Success, as in any situation of life, or in most I know, is about teamwork. Yourself, you do what you do. As a team, you will be much stronger. Formula One is a team work, and definitely not a one man show.
“Formula One is very tough. It used to be a lot harder – no power brakes, no power steering – in the past compared to nowadays. But anyway it is one of the toughest sports you can do, so a lot of preparation is needed.”
After spending several months in hospital, Schumacher returned to his home in Switzerland in September 2014 and has since been receiving intensive treatment.
Son’s heartbreaking admission
The teenage son of Schumacher is said to have offered a heartbreaking insight into the F1 legend’s condition.
A friend of Mick Schumacher, 19, has revealed how the stricken driver’s son “finds it hard” to cope with his father’s plight.
And according to Nicklas Nielsen, a friend of Mick, the up-and-coming driver is “completely closed” about his dad’s health.
“Mick does not say he is sad about his father. He just said sometimes that it is hard,” Nielsen told Danish newspaper BT.