15 September 2023 , 08:49
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Michael Schumacher ’s close friend Johnny Herbert has revealed that the F1 legend’s brother Ralf has “changed a lot” in the nine years since the seven-time world champion's devastating accident.
The German was involved in a horror skiing incident back in December 2013, with little information having been released on his condition since then. He was initially placed in a medically induced coma in hospital, with his family adopting a stance of strict privacy ever since.
Former F1 driver and Schumacher’s close pal Herbert - who won three races during his F1 career - has recently spoken out and detailed how brother Ralf has been impacted. Speaking to Grosvenor Sport, he said: “When Ralf Schumacher was with Sky Germany we often met.
“Ralf has had to do a lot of things for and with the family given what happened to Michael. He has matured. He is very different now to the person he was as a driver.
“He is a good human being now. He has changed a lot having had to cope with the ongoing situation with his brother."
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Since the heart-breaking accident just one year after his F1 retirement, Schumacher
#]has been undergoing rehabilitation at a lakeside mansion in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Michael Schumacher celebrates alongside Johnny Herbert at the Japanese Grand Prix (Getty Images)What is your favourite Michael Schumacher memory? Share your thoughts in the comments below
His wife Corinna - Schumacher’s married partner since 1995 - previously admitted that he was “different” now and that everyone surrounding him had been affected by the accident. "I miss Michael every day. But it's not just me who misses him," she said in tears during the Netflix documentary Schumacher back in 2021.
"It's the children, the family, his father, everyone around him. I mean, everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here. Different, but he's here and that gives us strength, I find."
Ralf Schumacher also enjoyed a successful career within Formula One alongside his brother, despite never managing to lift the title. His first season came in 1998 with Benson & Hedges before he also represented the likes of Winfield Williams, BMW Williams and Toyota.
He won six races throughout his career before retiring in 2007. He, alongside brother Michael, are the only pair of siblings to have each won F1 races.
Despite stepping back from Formula One, Ralf continued to race in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters between 2008 and 2012. He had retired from racing just a few months before his brother’s devastating accident and was initially handed a management role at Mucke Motorsport, whilst he also became a shareholder in the team.