Former teammate's beautiful tribute to Schumacher
Some of the biggest names in Formula 1 have paid tribute to Michael Schumacher on the four-year anniversary of his accident.
Schumacher was left with extensive brain damage after a skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013.
His family and friends have remained tight-lipped about his condition over the years, with little hope he will ever recover.
However fans and fellow drivers have continued to hope and pray, and as the calendar ticked over four years since the accident, some of his biggest rivals took to social media with tributes.
“Michael was my teacher, he was very nice, very kind to me," former Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa said.
"He gave a big opportunity to me.”
"Michael was my teacher, he was very nice, very kind to me. He gave a big opportunity to me"
Felipe Massa's #F1 journey in his own words >> https://t.co/lT5ujXwsti pic.twitter.com/6LTzBKI7Sj— Formula 1 (@F1) December 28, 2017
Fellow Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso responded to a video of his duel with Schumacher in 2005 with a post saying "Missing Michael."
Missing this. Missing Michael. #KeepFightingMichael 🙏💪 https://t.co/qCeQL12Gfi
— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) December 29, 2017
Special times buddy #KeepFightingMichael https://t.co/dEuR3M1rmp
— Jenson Button (@JensonButton) December 29, 2017
"Special times buddy #KeepFightingMichael", added Jenson Button.
British driver Damon Hill expressed his regret that his relationship with Schumacher wasn't particularly good.
“He wasn’t quite so kind to me," Damon tweeted. “But I forgive him."
“Shame we never got to get to know one another better. Great shame.”
He wasn’t quite so kind to me! But I forgive him. Shame we never got to get to know one another better. Great shame. @MassaFelipe19 @schumacher #F1 #KeepfightingMichael https://t.co/0KZB7aKGac
— Damon Hill (@HillF1) December 29, 2017
In 2016 Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm admitted avoiding giving out exact details about his health to prevent speculation or misinterpretation in the media.
"Every sentence is a catalyst for new inquiries, every word is a beacon for further information. It never dies down," he said.
The seven-time world champion spent six months in an induced coma before returning to his home in Switzerland to continue his rehabilitation.
Ex-Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo last year shed brief light on Schumacher's condition by saying: "I get news about him constantly, and unfortunately it's not good."
"Unfortunately, a skiing accident ruined his life," he added.
Kehm said Schumacher took pains to keep his private life separate during his career and and she is just doing the same.
"Before his accident, Michael's private life was sacred and everyone accepted that," said the 51-year-old.
with agencies