Schumacher's Health Status Revealed by Former Teammate
Michael Schumacher has been capable of sitting up in a wheelchair for several years, according to his former Formula One teammate Riccardo Patrese, though the racing legend likely remains unaware of his monumental seven world championship titles. This insight comes following recent reports about Schumacher's condition more than twelve years after his devastating skiing accident in the French Alps.
Gradual Improvements Over Time
Patrese, who drove alongside Schumacher for the Benetton team during the 1993 F1 season, disclosed that he first heard about positive developments in Schumacher's health approximately six years ago. "I had this news, via a friend, that he was improving," the Italian racing veteran explained during an interview. "But I never met him after the accident."
The former teammate described how information reached him suggesting Schumacher could sit, watch his surroundings, and establish contact through eye movements. "After the first improvements, my knowledge about his health was that he was in the situation that they described this week," Patrese stated, referencing recent media reports about Schumacher no longer being bedridden.
Family's Dedicated Care and Privacy
Schumacher receives round-the-clock care from his wife of three decades, Corinna, supported by a dedicated team of nurses and therapists. The family maintains residences in Majorca, valued at approximately £30 million, and Gland on Lake Geneva's shores, worth around £50 million, where Schumacher can be wheeled around the estates.
Patrese emphasised the family's unwavering commitment: "Of course Michael is now living in the way that he is with a lot of effort from the family. I think in this kind of situation, it is a treasure for the person that they love. Even with the condition he is in, they like to have him and care for him and love him."
Limited Awareness and Recognition
The former Benetton driver expressed his belief that Schumacher exists in his own world, though he can recognise familiar faces. "He's in his own world, but he recognises people around him, familiar faces. I am sure he does not know he is a seven-time world champion," Patrese revealed, highlighting the tragic dimension of the racing icon's current reality.
Despite the improvements, Patrese noted that Schumacher's condition has remained relatively stable for several years. "I'm very happy to hear that Michael is improving but from what I know of this situation nothing has changed for some years," he observed, while expressing hope for continued progress.
Rejected Offer of Assistance
Patrese recounted how he immediately understood the severity of Schumacher's condition when his Christmas message went unanswered following the 2013 accident. The former teammate offered to visit and attempt to stimulate Schumacher's awareness shortly after the incident, but Corinna declined the proposal.
"I did offer to help to see if it would help if I went to see him. But they preferred to stay alone," Patrese explained. "From the time of the accident, I said to Corinna, 'Do you want me to come and maybe try to talk and see if he can wake up and so on?' And she said to me, 'Don't worry, Riccardo'."
The family has maintained strict privacy, allowing only a select few trusted individuals close to Schumacher, including former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt and ex-teammate Luca Badoer. Patrese encountered Corinna at the 2019 Goodwood celebration of Schumacher's career but respected the family's boundaries by not inquiring about Michael's health.
Racing Partnership and Retirement
Patrese joined Benetton in 1993 after finishing as runner-up in the previous season's World Drivers' Championship. During their single season as teammates, Schumacher outperformed the Italian veteran, prompting Patrese's retirement from Formula One at the season's conclusion. Their partnership, though brief, created a lasting connection that makes Patrese's insights particularly poignant for the motorsport community.
The racing world continues to hold hope for Schumacher's recovery, with Patrese concluding: "He's still with us and we can only hope that he will get better. We are really hoping, every day he is doing a little bit more." The family's dedication to Schumacher's care and their fierce protection of his privacy remain central to his ongoing journey more than a decade after the life-altering accident.
