Michael Schumacher: F1 legend's medical mystery as he is 'seen in public' at daughter's wedding

Michael Schumacher, a name that transcended the world of Formula 1, was a household figure during his prime. The German driver, who became a seven-time F1 champion, enjoyed most of his success with Ferrari, creating an iconic partnership in the sport.

When news broke of his life-altering skiing accident in December 2013, it sparked a massive wave of emotion among fans and followers. Since then, there has been a significant demand for updates on his condition.

However, true information has been scarce. Despite his public racing career, Schumacher was a private individual, and his wife Corinna has strived to maintain this privacy since the accident.

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Medical reports reveal that Schumacher suffered a traumatic brain injury in December 2013 when he fell while skiing off-piste in the French Alps and hit his head on a rock. He was airlifted to hospital and placed in a medically induced coma, which he emerged from a few months later.

Although he survived, it was clear he would never be the same again. In September 2014, he was allowed to return to his family home near Lake Geneva, where he has since been cared for by Corinna and a team of medical staff, reports the Mirror.

Only a select few trusted individuals are permitted to see him and understand the extent of his injuries.

Michael Schumacher's family circle has remained notably exclusive, with some relatives occasionally left out. Michael's brother Ralf, a retired F1 driver and current Sky Germany pundit for the sport, confessed last year that Michael's family "go their own way".

However, there seems to be a thaw as Ralf and his partner, Etienne, were spotted at Gina-Maria Schumacher's wedding. Michael's 27-year-old daughter married Iain Bethke in a sumptuous event at their £27 million villa in Majorca last Saturday.

The presence of Michael himself, who suffered severe injuries in a skiing accident, at Gina-Maria's nuptials was not officially confirmed. Yet, Bild speculates that Michael's attendance is "very likely", considering he has been transported to the Majorca property previously.

Some figures from Michael's past, including former manager Willi Weber, were notably absent from the guest list. Despite a consistent professional relationship with Schumacher until his 2012 retirement and claiming that Michael was "one of my best friends", Weber remarked on being out of the loop regarding Michael’s current condition.

One of the few former F1 colleagues who has been permitted to visit him is his old Ferrari team principal, Jean Todt. The Frenchman, also an ex-president of the FIA, has remained largely silent out of respect for Michael and Corinna, but he shared with Bild: "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. 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 cooperation of Corinna, who wanted him to survive, he survived - but with consequences."

The full extent of these 'consequences' remains largely private.

Corinna has spoken of her husband as being "different" post-accident, while their son Mick, who has followed in his father's F1 footsteps and raced for Haas before joining Mercedes as a reserve, has noted that Michael's condition means he cannot communicate. In 2019, reports surfaced that Schumacher underwent stem cell treatment to potentially regenerate his nervous system, with Le Parisien reporting his admission for transfusions of inflammation-reducing stem cells and citing an unnamed nurse who suggested signs of recovery in Schumacher.

Elisabetta Gregoraci, the ex-wife of former F1 team boss Flavio Briatore, has revealed that Michael Schumacher has been spending more time at the family's Majorcan villa recently. She disclosed: "Michael doesn't speak, he communicates with his eyes. Only three people can visit him and I know who they are. They moved to Spain and his wife has set up a hospital in that house."

In 2021, Schumacher's wife Corinna participated in a Netflix documentary called 'Schumacher', where she maintained privacy over certain aspects but shared her personal journey, stating: "I miss Michael every day. But it's not just me who misses him. It's the children, the family, his father, everyone around him. Everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here - different, but here. He still shows me how strong he is every day.

"We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he's comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond. And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.

"We're trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives. It's very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us, and now we are protecting Michael."

Perhaps the most heart-wrenching aspect was the acknowledgement from his son Mick, who reflected on the misfortune of his father's inability to actively follow his racing career. Since ascending to Formula One, Mick Schumacher expressed his regret, noting: "Since the accident, of course, these experiences, these moments that I believe many people have with their parents, are no longer present or to a lesser extent. And in my view, that is a little unfair."

He also shared deeper sentiments about his connection with his dad by saying, "I think me and dad, we would understand each other in a different way now. Simply because we speak a similar language - the language of motorsport - and that we would have a lot more to talk about. And that is where my head is most of the time. Thinking that would be so cool... I would give up everything just for that."

The possibility of Michael Schumacher making a public appearance continues to be uncertain. However, his attendance at his daughter’s wedding might indicate that his wife Corinna may be considering a more open approach.

Furthermore, with Mick's partner Laila Hasanovic posting an engagement photo flaunting a diamond ring, the Schumacher family could potentially look forward to another celebratory event.