Absolute reference to Formula 1, Michael Schumacher lives idle for five years and his skiing accident, December 29, 2013. The seven-time world champion will celebrate his 50 years on January 3 and his health, precarious, remains a secret carefully guarded by his relatives.
The family never wanted to communicate on this subject but in the opinion of renowned neurologists, the German racing driver, technically out of the coma, is not necessarily in a vegetative state. At the beginning of December, Jean Todt, president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and former boss of Schumacher at Ferrari, revealed to the German newspaper Bild having spent his former pilot in Switzerland, in Gland, on the weekend of Brazilian Grand Prix. For the tabloid, the meeting has inevitably become: “Todt and Schumacher watched the GP of Brazil together” , which has not been denied by the FIA. But the state of consciousness of “Schumi” , sitting or lying down, remains a well-kept medical secret, including when he watches his son Mick’s races on television, on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Mute about the real state of the most titled driver of F1, his relatives are however active via digital media. “We are in contact with many fans, thanks to social networks. The family wishes to communicate around the strong image of Michael, and his 50th birthday, rather than around the date of December 29, “ Sabine Kehm, the general director of the MS Office , told AFP .
Tribute of Ferrari to the Red Baron
Sabine Kehm manages Schumacher’s communication since the drama of Meribel. That day, “Schumi” helmeted and accompanied by his son Mick, then 14 years old, falls on skis at a slow pace head first, because of a badly placed rock, between two marked trails. Since then, information is rare and often misinterpreted, even distorted. But the legend of the “Red Baron”continues to be written by his relatives, starting with the Scuderia Ferrari. The expo of the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, which opens next Thursday, his birthday, is simply called “Michael 50” .
“Our intention is both to celebrate and show our gratitude for the most successful driver in the history of the Prancing Horse , “ writes Ferrari about its star pilot, five times crowned in red (from 2000 to 2004). All details of his career are in the new mobile application that will be launched Thursday, in English and German: this “Official Michael Schumacher App” is a kind of “virtual museum” , according to the Keep Fighting Foundation launched there is two years by the family, with for example “3D F1” and recording “engine noise” .
Meanwhile, the F1 planet continues to spin and Mercedes, the last stable of Schumacher (from 2010 to 2012), continues to prepare 2019, after ten consecutive titles (drivers and builders) since 2014. Thanks to Nico Rosberg and especially Lewis Hamilton now five times world champion, like Fangio. Joining Schumacher, holder of seven titles, after passing Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, among other legends of F1, is the last challenge of the 33-year-old Englishman, who has just returned for two years with the brand. star: “Who knows if I will still have the chance to win in the future? In any case, I will do my best to achieve it, “ he promises.
Mick Schumacher, F1 goal
The “91 victories (Schumacher), for example, it will take a little time to achieve, but I’m still in F1 for a few years so I hope at least get closer,” said Hamilton from the top of his 73 successes (one GP out of three) … and 83 pole positions, absolute record. In addition to Ferrari and Mercedes, which maintain the legacy of the immense “Schumi” , there is now Mick, now 19 years old. European Champion F3, he will be in F2 next season, in the antechamber of this F1 which he has always dreamed.
In the “son of” category , the three most recent examples, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Nico Rosberg, have all become world champions. But the possible arrival of Mick Schumacher in F1, in 2020 or 2021, whatever the team or engine, it will be something else. A step above. What necessarily revive the audience of F1 …
