29 December 2023 , 09:05
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It's been 10 years to the day since Michael Schumacher suffered a life-changing brain injury while skiing in France.
The Formula 1 icon, who won seven world titles during his glittering career, survived the accident but hasn't been seen in public since and requires round-the-clock care from a team of medical professionals. His wife Corinna has remained by his side throughout.
Schumacher's exact condition has remained a secret throughout the last decade, with only rare updates issued. Just a few people close to the driving legend know the truth. Not even his former manager Willi Weber is allowed to see the stricken superstar.
Weber, who worked with Schumacher for much of his F1 career, recently expressed his regret at failing to see him in hospital immediately after the accident. He's previously hit out at the family for not being allowed to visit him in recent years.
"When I think of Michael now, unfortunately I don't have anymore hope that I will see him again," Weber told Cologne Express. "No positive news after 10 years."
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Weber, who also managed Schumacher's brother Ralf, added: "Of course, I regret that very much and blame myself. I should have visited Michael in the hospital. I mourned like a dog after his accident. It hit me incredibly hard, you can imagine that.
"But at some point, the point came when I had to free myself from Michael and let go. Even three or four years later, people who recognised me kept asking me, 'You're Schumacher's ex-manager. How is Michael?'
Willi Weber managed Michael Schumacher throughout his Formula 1 career (Getty Images)Write your message of support for Michael Schumacher in the comments below
"Then I stopped trying to explain and thought, 'Why doesn't anyone ask how I'm doing?' For me it was clear, 'Well, now it's over. This crap needs to get out of my head'."
It's not the first time Weber has spoken about Schumacher's accident. "I tried hundreds of times to contact Corinna and she didn’t answer," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport last year. "I called Jean Todt (Schumacher’s ex-boss at Ferrari) to ask him if I should go to the hospital and he told me to wait - it’s too early. I called the next day and no one answered.
"I didn’t expect behaviour like that and I’m still angry about it. They kept me out, telling me it’s too early, well now it’s too late. It’s been nine years. Maybe they should just say it the way it is... I could understand the situation initially as I always did everything I could for Michael to protect his private life. But since then we have only heard lies from them."
The anniversary of Schumacher's accident has put talk of his condition back into the spotlight. His former rival Damon Hill recently told the Press Association: "It is a terrible tragedy. This is not how you want anyone to end up. It makes you treasure every day and be thankful for your good fortune. I think about his family. It is so hard for them."