Michael Schumacher has been out of the public eye since his skiing accident in 2013, but three people are allowed to visit the F1 icon at his home in Switzerland

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Michael Schumacher’s privacy has been fiercely protected by his wife Corinne(Image: Lalo Yasky, WireImagevia Getty Images)

The health of F1 legend Michael Schumacher has been shrouded in secrecy since his devastating skiing accident nearly 12 years ago. He was left with life-altering injuries after striking his head on a rock in the French Alps.

Following the incident, Schumacher was put into a medically induced coma and spent several months in hospital before being moved to his family home in Switzerland for ongoing care. His devoted wife Corinna and their two children, Mick and Gina-Maria, have been at the forefront of his care.

Mick has followed in his father’s tyre tracks, racing for Haas in F1, while Gina-Maria tied the knot last year. Reports circulated in the German press that Schumacher had attended his daughter’s wedding in Majorca, with guests reportedly asked to leave their mobiles at the door to prevent unauthorised photos.

However, these claims were later debunked as “fake news.” It has since come to light that only three individuals outside of the immediate family are permitted to visit Schumacher….

Jean Todt

Todt served as Schumacher’s boss at Ferrari throughout his remarkable five F1 title wins between 2000 and 2004. The French motorsport executive has periodically provided updates about his friend’s well-being while fiercely protecting the family’s desire for privacy.

Speaking to La Repubblica earlier this year, he said: “The family has decided not to answer the question [on his condition], a choice that I respect.

“I see him regularly and with affection, him and his family. Our bond goes beyond the past work. It is part of my life, which today is very far from Formula 1.”

Todt had previously revealed he watches F1 races alongside Schumacher, telling German broadcaster RTL in 2022: “I don’t miss Michael. I see him. Yes, it’s true, I watch races with Michael. But sure, I guess what I miss is what we used to do together.”

In a poignant confession to L’Equipe in 2023, Todt acknowledged the reality of Schumacher’s situation, saying: “[He] is simply not the Michael he used to be. He is different and is wonderfully guided by his wife and children, who protect him.”

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Jean Todt is a close confidant of the Schumacher family(Image: Getty Images)

Ross Brawn

Schumacher’s partnership with Brawn stretches back even longer, with the duo collaborating at Benetton, where he secured his first two F1 crowns during the mid-1990s. The technical director subsequently accompanied Schumacher to Ferrari in 1996.

The duo became integral members of what became known as the ‘Dream Team’ that included many of F1 finest talents during the squad’s period of supremacy in the early 2000s. Schumacher reunited with Brawn with a third team, Mercedes, during his three-season return to the sport between 2010 and 2012.

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Ross Brawn with Schumacher during their time at Mercedes(Image: Getty)

Gerhard Berger

Berger is believed to be the third individual permitted to visit Schumacher, according to the Telegraph. The two were track adversaries during the first half of Schumacher’s F1 career.

The duo swapped teams at the conclusion of 1995; while Schumacher departed Benetton for Ferrari, Berger moved in the opposite direction.

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Schumacher and Gerhard Berger in 1997, Berger’s final year in F1(Image: Bongarts, Bongarts/Getty Images)

Although the Austrian wasn’t in the same league as Schumacher behind the wheel, he commands considerable respect within F1 circles, having occupied important positions at BMW during their participation in the sport and subsequently at Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls).

Highlighting his connection with Schumacher, Berger experienced a surge of emotion when Lewis Hamilton matched his tally of seven F1 championships. He once said: “I would have liked Michael to remain the most successful driver in history for a long time, simply because of his fate. It is so tragic that you have to cry almost every time you think about it.”