Michael Schumacher ‘unlikely to be seen in public again,’ close friend says

Michael Schumacher is unlikely to ever make a public appearance again, almost 12 years after the Formula One legend’s life-changing skiing accident.

Richard Hopkins, former Red Bull operations chief and longtime friend, revealed that Schumacher’s inner circle is extremely tight, with only a handful of former F1 colleagues allowed regular visits.

“Only a few people are in his inner circle, and I’m not one of them,” Hopkins said. “It’s very private, and for the right reasons.”

The sporting legend was left paralysed and with a traumatic brain injury after hitting his head on a rock during a ski trip to the French Alps.

Since the accident in 2013, Schumacher has been cared for by his family and a team of doctors and nurses at his home near Lake Geneva, Switzerland.

Updates on his condition are scarce, and the family continues to fiercely protect his privacy.

Hopkins said fans may never see Schumacher again, underlining the severity of the seven-time world champion’s injuries.

Other figures in the sport, including Jean Todt and Ross Brawn, are among the few allowed regular access.

Reports indicate Schumacher is looked after by his wife, Corinna, and a personal Finnish doctor.

In 2020, leading neurosurgeon Erich Riederer told The Independent that Schumacher may be in a “vegetative state” with little chance of full recovery.

Last year, the F1 star was reportedly seen by people outside his strict inner circle for the first time since his accident, when he attended his daughter Gina’s wedding in Mallorca.

The nuptials were held at the family’s luxury villa, purchased from Real Madrid chairman Florentino Perez in 2017, and strict security measures were in place.

Guests reportedly had their phones confiscated, and the house was partially converted into a medical sanctuary capable of providing hospital-level care around the clock.

Schumacher continues to split his time between the Lake Geneva home and the Mallorca property, with the family prioritising both his comfort and privacy.