Schumacher’s former boss appeared to confirm the F1 star was bed-bound

MICHAEL Schumacher’s former pal says he fears the worst over the F1 legend’s condition.

Details surrounding the star’s health have been kept under lock and key since he suffered a near-fatal ski accident in 2013.

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Michael Schumacher pictured in Monza, Italy in 2005Credit: Getty

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Schumacher with his wife Corinna in Madonna di Campiglio in 2003Credit: AFP

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Richard Hopkins said the F1 legend ghosted him after he shot to fameCredit: SUPPLIED
Ex-Red Bull boss Richard Hopkins – who enjoyed regular coffee breaks with Schumacher in the early 1990s – said the lack of information for more than a decade stokes his fears about his condition.

Hopkins, Head of Operations at Red Bull from 2013 to 2015, met Schumacher he was a mechanic at McLaren and the F1 great was at Benetton.

He watched as Schumacher’s career skyrocketed until he retired in 2012 with a joint record seven world titles.

But the following year, Schumacher – now 56 – suffered a devastating head injury while skiing on Alpine slopes in France.

Protective wife Corinna has not revealed any details about his condition and he has not been seen in public since.

And Hopkins says the longer time goes on without an update, the more he fears about the true nature of his health.

He told The Sun: “It’s a shame and I wish we all knew a bit more. I get it and I understand it, it’s very private to them.

“But the danger of course is that we all make assumptions of how he is, and probably none of our assumptions are accurate.

“We create an assumption that is probably worse and darker than his condition probably is, and then a lot of us look on the bright side and hope it’s a lot better than it actually is.

“I saw the recent story about him signing a crash helmet, and there’s an MS on it. We’d all love to believe he got a pen out the draw and signed it but there was probably some assistance along the way.

“I wish we had a better idea, not just me, all of us in motor racing. It’s sad because even the ‘keep fighting Michael’ message has kind of been forgotten.

“But it’s life and we all move on. It’s very sad that we just don’t know and we don’t hear from him. It’s sad that he doesn’t attend races or make public appearances.

“He was an amazing guy, extraordinary character and amazingly successful.”

Close pal Flavio Briatore, who led Schumacher to his first two titles at Benetton, recently offered a heartbreaking insight into his health.

He appeared to confirm Schumacher, who joined Ferrari after Benetton where he won five titles, was bed-bound.

Briatore told Corriere della Sera: “If I close my eyes, I see him smiling after a victory.

“I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed.”

Hopkins said he used to bump into Corinna but hasn’t seen her, or anyone else close to him, since the crash.

He added:  “I just haven’t crossed paths with them.

“The circle of people close to Michael is very small, Jean Todt, Corrina, Mick, and a few others who spend time with him.

“Everything about Michael’s situation is kept private, and those who are close to him, including his nursing team, are bound by an absolute circle of trust.

“I did meet Corinna a couple of times, if only just to say hi and everything else. My interactions with Michael weren’t shared with Corinna.

“But even if I did bump into her now, and I asked how Michael was, she would probably just say he’s fine. I didn’t know her well enough for her to share information with me.”

He added: “If he could be at a race today, I wonder if he would be? I wonder if he would love it today, rocking up at a race track, everyone would love him being there.

“But I don’t think he would, actually. I think he’d spend more time on other interests, spending more time on a bloody horse than a race track now!”

Schumacher retired in 2006 but made a brief comeback for Mercedes from 2010 to 2012.

He is widely considered among the best to ever race in the sport.

Only small hints have been released about his health since the accident.

Briatore’s ex-wife, Elisabetta Gregoraci, previously said he doesn’t speak but communicates with his eyes.

Corinna has also previously said he is now “different, but here”.

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