On December 29, 2023, it’ll have been 10 years since Michael Schumacher’s horrific skiing accident, which resulted in him being placed in an artificial coma.
The seven-time World Champion hasn’t been seen in public since that day, with his privacy having been respected to extreme lengths since his fall.
Schumacher suffered severe head injuries whilst skiing in the French Alps, at Meribel resort in particular, despite having been wearing a helmet as is always advised.
As well as being placed in an artificial coma after his accident, the German underwent several surgeries, with his brother, ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, having since admitted that the racing legend might never make a full recovery.
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Whilst the 91-time race winner’s life is extremely different now, he is thankfully still with us, although on select people have been allowed to visit him since he exited his coma.
Ex-Ferrari boss and former FIA president Jean Todt is one of the people to have visited Schumacher the most, whilst ex-Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer has also received permission from the German’s wife, Corinna, to visit.
10 years on, Schumacher still receives 24-hour care from his wife and a team of medical staff, with some rare details of his recovery having been revealed by German publication BILD.
The 54-year-old receives his treatment at his home at Lake Geneva, courtesy of 15 doctors.
As well as his 24-hour recovery team consisting of 15 doctors, it also includes assistants and masseurs.
It’s not just at his family home where he’s been undergoing rehabilitation, as Schumacher was also taken for a drive in a Mercedes-AMG car.
The idea behind this was to stimulate Schumacher’s brain with familiar sounds, something a car engine certainly is.
Schumacher started 306 F1 races across a 21-year period, starting at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix and concluding at the end of the 2012 season.
However, he didn’t compete in the pinnacle of motorsport from 2007-2009, as he initially retired from the sport at the end of 2006.
His F1 debut came courtesy of Eddie Jordan, who gave Schumacher a chance in his team.
This was his only start for the Jordan F1 team, as from the 1991 Italian Grand Prix to the end of the 1995 season, Schumacher raced for Benetton.
Two of his seven titles were claimed whilst racing for Benetton, in 1994 and 1995.
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He famously moved to Ferrari for the 1996 season and remained there until he initially retired, with his five other titles having come consecutively from 2000-2004.
Schumacher’s return to F1 in 2010 came at Mercedes, who he competed for in three seasons before retiring for good. It was Lewis Hamilton who replaced him.