Heartbreaking Michael Schumacher update given by close friend who talks often with wife

Former Benetton boss Flavio Briatore has given an emotional update on the condition of his former driver Michael Schumacher. The seven-time world champion has not been seen publicly since his high-speed skiing accident in Meribel in December 2013, that left him with long-term injuries.

Wife Corinna has kept details of treatment and progress private. In the Netflix documentary Schumacher, released in 2021, she spoke about the impact of her husband's ordeal on the family, but did not disclose details of his condition. Few visitors have been allowed to visit the 56-year-old, with Briatore one of the exceptions.

The Italian businessman, 75, has also kept regular contact with Corrina. He's now provided a brief insight into Schumacher's life, implying the F1 icon is still severely restricted in terms of his mobility.

"If I close my eyes, I see him smiling after a victory," he told Corriere della Sera. "I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed. Corinna and I talk often, though."

Briatore is famed for his stint with Benetton, first joining the team in 1985 before taking over as team principal six years later. One of his first major moves was to sign a young Schumacher for Jordan, a switch seen as a seminal moment in F1 history.

The German driver would go on to win the first two of his seven world titles in 1994 and 1995. He later joined Ferrari and famously was crowned champion in five successive seasons between 2000 and 2004.

Briatore's statement is one of the few public comments released on Schumacher in the past 11 years. At the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, Sir Jackie Stewart wore a helmet with the initials 'MS' inscribed on it during a special celebratory lap.

The gesture was reportedly backed by Corrina. It's been one of the few permitted tributes to Schumacher's legacy since his accident, which came a year after his second and final retirement from the sport.