He ruled the track in the ’90s—now he’s fighting the battle of his life
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When public figures disappear from the spotlight, the mystery can leave fans with more questions than answers.
Years of silence have surrounded one of Formula 1’s most iconic champions—until now.
A former team boss and close family friends have shared rare and moving reflections that offer a glimpse into a very private world.
When someone vanishes from public life, especially a beloved sporting icon, curiosity often turns to concern—and eventually to sorrow.
More than a decade after his life changed forever, Michael Schumacher remained out of view, wrapped in layers of privacy maintained by his family and inner circle.
But now, those closest to him have offered rare, emotional insights into how they continue to honour his legacy while grappling with the present.
Flavio Briatore, who played a pivotal role in Schumacher’s early rise to stardom at Benetton, spoke candidly about the F1 legend’s condition and how he chooses to remember his former protégé.
‘If I close my eyes, I see him smiling after a win,’ he said. ‘I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed. Corinna and I talk often, though.’
It was a sobering image—the mention of Schumacher ‘just lying on a bed’—one that quietly underscored the gravity of his situation.
Schumacher, who turned 56 this year, suffered devastating brain injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013. Since then, he had not appeared publicly and had remained under full-time care at his home in Switzerland.
While fans longed for updates, the Schumacher family remained resolute in their desire for privacy. That resolve had created an aura of mystery—and, at times, confusion.
In 2023, rumours swirled that Schumacher had attended his daughter Gina-Maria’s wedding in Majorca. But those reports were quickly shut down by former Benetton teammate Johnny Herbert, who clarified: ‘Unfortunately, from what I understand, that was all A1 fake news and no truth in it.’
Still, those within his trusted circle had gradually shared glimpses into his world—each one shedding more light on his daily life, and on the people who continued to stand by him.
Among them was Jean Todt, Schumacher’s former boss at Ferrari. Todt had remained close to the family and visited regularly.
‘I see him regularly and with affection, him and his family. Our bond goes beyond the past work,’ Todt shared.
In a previous interview, Todt added: ‘[He] is simply not the Michael he used to be. He is different and is wonderfully guided by his wife and children, who protect him.’
That sentiment echoed what Briatore described—holding on to vibrant memories of Schumacher’s winning days rather than dwelling on the painful present.
Briatore’s ex-wife, Elisabetta Gregoraci, also spoke about Schumacher’s condition in an earlier interview, saying: ‘Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes. Only three people can visit him and I know who they are.’
German journalist Felix Gorner reinforced that reality earlier this year, stating that Schumacher was ‘completely dependent’ on caregivers and ‘can no longer express himself verbally’.
Despite the heartbreak, there were moments that showed Schumacher was still part of the racing world in meaningful ways.
Earlier in 2025, it was revealed that Schumacher had contributed to a charity effort led by Sir Jackie Stewart. His signature was added to a helmet signed by every living F1 world champion to support Stewart’s Race Against Dementia initiative.
‘It is wonderful that Michael could sign the helmet in this worthy cause,’ Stewart said. ‘His wife helped him, and it completed the set of every single champion still with us.’
The family’s deep involvement was also highlighted in the 2021 Netflix documentary Schumacher, where his wife Corinna offered a rare and heartfelt insight into their life behind closed doors.
Source: Youtube/Netflix
‘Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find,’ she said. ‘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 no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.’
Through every tribute and guarded update, one thing remained clear: while the world might never again see Michael Schumacher as he once was, those closest to him never stopped seeing the champion he had always been.
Before his accident, Schumacher delivered moments that left even the toughest critics in awe—proof of a talent that truly stood apart.
Take a trip down memory lane and relive some of the incredible highlights that made him a legend.
Source: Youtube/Racers Reverie
With so many of us having followed Michael Schumacher’s legendary career, how do you choose to remember sporting icons when they step out of the spotlight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at how one Olympian’s health journey became a powerful reminder about the importance of listening to our bodies—especially as we age.
For many older Australians, staying on top of our health can be as challenging as it is crucial, particularly when changes happen gradually.
If you’ve ever brushed aside a symptom or delayed a check-up, this one’s well worth a read.
Read more: ‘I neglected the symptoms’: What this Olympian’s journey can teach us all about ageing well
Years of silence have surrounded one of Formula 1’s most iconic champions—until now.
A former team boss and close family friends have shared rare and moving reflections that offer a glimpse into a very private world.
When someone vanishes from public life, especially a beloved sporting icon, curiosity often turns to concern—and eventually to sorrow.
More than a decade after his life changed forever, Michael Schumacher remained out of view, wrapped in layers of privacy maintained by his family and inner circle.
But now, those closest to him have offered rare, emotional insights into how they continue to honour his legacy while grappling with the present.
Emotional tributes shared by Schumacher’s closest allies. Image source: Instagram/michaelschumacher
Flavio Briatore, who played a pivotal role in Schumacher’s early rise to stardom at Benetton, spoke candidly about the F1 legend’s condition and how he chooses to remember his former protégé.
‘If I close my eyes, I see him smiling after a win,’ he said. ‘I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed. Corinna and I talk often, though.’
It was a sobering image—the mention of Schumacher ‘just lying on a bed’—one that quietly underscored the gravity of his situation.
Schumacher, who turned 56 this year, suffered devastating brain injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013. Since then, he had not appeared publicly and had remained under full-time care at his home in Switzerland.
While fans longed for updates, the Schumacher family remained resolute in their desire for privacy. That resolve had created an aura of mystery—and, at times, confusion.
In 2023, rumours swirled that Schumacher had attended his daughter Gina-Maria’s wedding in Majorca. But those reports were quickly shut down by former Benetton teammate Johnny Herbert, who clarified: ‘Unfortunately, from what I understand, that was all A1 fake news and no truth in it.’
Still, those within his trusted circle had gradually shared glimpses into his world—each one shedding more light on his daily life, and on the people who continued to stand by him.
Among them was Jean Todt, Schumacher’s former boss at Ferrari. Todt had remained close to the family and visited regularly.
‘I see him regularly and with affection, him and his family. Our bond goes beyond the past work,’ Todt shared.
In a previous interview, Todt added: ‘[He] is simply not the Michael he used to be. He is different and is wonderfully guided by his wife and children, who protect him.’
That sentiment echoed what Briatore described—holding on to vibrant memories of Schumacher’s winning days rather than dwelling on the painful present.
Briatore’s ex-wife, Elisabetta Gregoraci, also spoke about Schumacher’s condition in an earlier interview, saying: ‘Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes. Only three people can visit him and I know who they are.’
German journalist Felix Gorner reinforced that reality earlier this year, stating that Schumacher was ‘completely dependent’ on caregivers and ‘can no longer express himself verbally’.
Despite the heartbreak, there were moments that showed Schumacher was still part of the racing world in meaningful ways.
Earlier in 2025, it was revealed that Schumacher had contributed to a charity effort led by Sir Jackie Stewart. His signature was added to a helmet signed by every living F1 world champion to support Stewart’s Race Against Dementia initiative.
‘It is wonderful that Michael could sign the helmet in this worthy cause,’ Stewart said. ‘His wife helped him, and it completed the set of every single champion still with us.’
The family’s deep involvement was also highlighted in the 2021 Netflix documentary Schumacher, where his wife Corinna offered a rare and heartfelt insight into their life behind closed doors.
Source: Youtube/Netflix
‘Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find,’ she said. ‘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 no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.’
Through every tribute and guarded update, one thing remained clear: while the world might never again see Michael Schumacher as he once was, those closest to him never stopped seeing the champion he had always been.
Before his accident, Schumacher delivered moments that left even the toughest critics in awe—proof of a talent that truly stood apart.
Take a trip down memory lane and relive some of the incredible highlights that made him a legend.
Source: Youtube/Racers Reverie
With so many of us having followed Michael Schumacher’s legendary career, how do you choose to remember sporting icons when they step out of the spotlight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at how one Olympian’s health journey became a powerful reminder about the importance of listening to our bodies—especially as we age.
For many older Australians, staying on top of our health can be as challenging as it is crucial, particularly when changes happen gradually.
If you’ve ever brushed aside a symptom or delayed a check-up, this one’s well worth a read.
Read more: ‘I neglected the symptoms’: What this Olympian’s journey can teach us all about ageing well
