Michael Schumacher’s friend shares emotional update on F1 star’s health
Michael Schumacher has not been seen in public since the Formula 1 legend suffered a head injury during a skiing accident in 2013
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Michael Schumacher’s health condition has been kept private(Image: Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Former Red Bull chief Richard Hopkins has provided an update on Michael Schumacher’s health and explained why he does not believe the public will see the Formula 1 legend again. Schumacher’s health has been kept private ever since the seven-time world champion suffered a head injury in a skiing accident back in December 2013.
Schumacher’s health has been kept out of the public eye ever since the 56-year-old was put into a medically induced coma shortly after the accident nearly 12 years ago.
Hopkins was head of operations during his time at Red Bull and formed a close friendship with Schumacher during the F1 legend’s time as a driver.
Hopkins acknowledged the need to maintain privacy around Schumacher’s health, while also making a sombre claim about the former racing driver.
“I haven’t heard anything recently. I understand he has a Finnish doctor, a personal doctor,” Hopkins said in a recent interview with Sportbible.
“I don’t think we’ll see Michael again. I’m slightly uncomfortable talking about his condition because of how secretive, for the right reasons, the family wants to keep it.
“So I can make a remark, have an opinion, but I’m not in that inner circle.
“I’m not Jean Todt [ex-Ferrari team principal], I’m not Ross Brawn [ex-Ferrari technical director], I’m not Gerhard Berger, who visit Michael. I’m a long way from that.”
Hopkins first became friends with Schumacher during the 1990s, where he initially worked at McLaren before going on to hold a senior role at Red Bull. He went on to acknowledge that he is not in Schumacher’s inner circle, and maintained the need for the F1 icon’s health to remain out of the public eye.
“I can’t say I’m best friends with Jean Todt, or Ross, or Gerhard,” Hopkins said.
“I think even if you were Ross Brawn’s best friend, and you asked how well Michael was, and even if you plied Ross with a lot of good red wine, I don’t think he would open up and share.
“I think there is that respect with anybody who goes to visit Michael not to share anything.
“That’s the way the family wants it to be. I think that’s fair and respectful towards the family. Even if I did know, the family would be disappointed if I shared anyway.”
