MICHAEL Schumacher’s brother Ralf has said the Formula 1 legend may never fully recover from his horrific skiing accident in 2013.
He said “nothing is the same” since the driving legend’s crash despite advanced medical treatment.
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Michael Schumacher (right) laughs with Ralf (left) at the 2003 Canadian Grand Prix Credit: Reuters
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Ralf, 48, spoke about his brother’s conditionCredit: Getty
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Michael Schumacher with his wife Corinna on the track in 2003. Credit: Alamy
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Schumacher is widely regarded as the best driver in the history of Formula 1. Credit: AFP
The racing icon has not been seen in public since his accident in the French Alps in 2013, and very little is known about his condition.
December 29 will mark ten years since Schumacher, widely regarded as the greatest driver in Formula 1 history, suffered a crash that left him in a coma for 250 days.
His family is keeping the details of his recovery and condition largely secret and only close family and close friends know all the details.
Ralf had previously revealed that he wasn’t allowed to have much contact with his brother’s family either.
In an interview with the German magazine Bunte, he stated that he still loves them and will always be there for them if they ever need him.
And now, on the eve of the tenth anniversary, Ralf (48) admitted: “I miss Michael from the old days. Life is unfair from time to time.
“Michael was very lucky throughout his life. But then this tragic accident happened.”
He told Germany’s Bild: “Michael was not just my brother.
“When we were children, he was my coach and mentor. He taught me literally everything about kart racing.
“There may be a seven-year age difference, but he’s always been there for me.
“We raced together, we practiced overtaking maneuvers and everything that is important in motorsport.”
Ralf, who also raced and won six F1 Grands Prix, said: “He passed on all the different things he had already imbibed. I had the honor of learning from the best.”
And he reflected on the effect of his brother’s accident on Schumacher’s children.
“It was a significant experience for me, but, of course, even more so for his children.
“Life is sometimes unfair. That day brought a lot of bad luck. This fate changed our family.”
Ralf was married to former model and TV presenter Cora Schumacher for 14 years, but they separated in February 2015.
His son David, 22, competes in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) series.
Schumacher’s son Mick (24) followed in his father’s footsteps on the racing track.
Ralf said earlier: “When I see his children Gina-Maria and Mick, my heart smiles.
“If someone in the family asks for my advice, I’m here. They go their own way.”
The 48-year-old revealed he is barely in touch with his brother’s family just days after the Schumacher family’s lawyer revealed why the racing legend never released a report on his health after the accident.
Speaking to German news outlet LTO, their lawyer explained that the official report was never made public to protect private matters.
He said: “Of course we’ve talked a lot about how that’s possible.
“So we also considered whether a final report on Michael’s health might be the right way to do that.
“But that would not be the end and there would have to be constantly updated ‘water level reports’.
“They could take such a report again and again and ask, ‘And what does it look like now?’ one, two, three months or a year after the message.”
Their family lawyer claims that his approach to the situation has strengthened the protection of the privacy of the Formula 1 legend and his family.
He said he understands many of Schumacher’s fans want to know how the star is doing, but he believes they should be able to respect the family’s privacy.
Formula 1 journalist Roger Benoit recently told the Swiss newspaper Blick that Schumacher was “a hopeless case”.
Formula 1 legend and friend of Schumacher’s, Johnny Herbert, later called the comment “horrible” but revealed that Schumacher “wasn’t close” with himself after his skiing accident.
Herbert also said, “There is never any news. What we do know is that we never hear positive news.
“It’s a terrible thought that he still can’t be close to the Michael we all remember. And it’s very sad.”
He also reflected on how the fall of the star has affected Ralf.
“Ralf has had to do a lot of things for and family because of what happened to Michael.
“He’s matured. He’s a very different person now than he was as a driver.
“He’s a good human being now. He’s changed a lot after having to deal with the current situation with his brother.”
He later described Schumacher’s wife Corinna as “very strong” despite the “big void” left by his crash.
He said, “She [Corinna] said that they are trying to continue as a family as Michael would have wanted.
“They get on with their lives, but private means private.”
And Jean Todt, Schumacher’s close friend and former boss, told French newspaper L’Equipe: “He’s just not the Michael he used to be.”
He said: “He is different and is wonderfully led by his protective wife and children.
“His life is different now, and I have the privilege of sharing moments with him.
“Unfortunately, fate struck him ten years ago.
“He is no longer the Michael we knew in Formula 1.”
The racing star’s former manager says there is “no hope” of seeing the F1 legend again.
Willi Weber revealed he didn’t get good news after allegedly being shut out of the racing star’s life for the past 10 years.
He told the Cologne Express: “When I think of Michael now, I unfortunately have no hope of ever seeing him again.
– There is no positive news after ten years.
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The Schumachers with their children Gina-Maria and Mick Credits: Netflix
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Mick Schumacher, 24, followed his father on the racetrack Credit: PA
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Schumacher skiing in 2005. Credit: AFP
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Michael Schumacher with close friend and former boss Jean TodtCredit: AFP
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Schumacher’s longtime manager Willi Weber, who does not believe he will ever see him againCredit: Alamy
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