In a deeply saddening development that has sent shockwaves through the racing community, close friend and F1 journalist Roger Benoit has described Michael Schumacher's condition as a "case without hope."
The seven-time Formula One World Champion has been shrouded in mystery since suffering life-threatening injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps back in 2013.
Schumacher hit his head on a rock while skiing, leading to a prolonged medically-induced coma that lasted 250 days.
He has not made a public appearance in over a decade, fueling speculations and concerns about his well-being. Family and friends have been exceptionally private, keeping details about Schumacher's condition under wraps to prevent media leaks.
In a recent interview with Swiss newspaper Blick, Benoit refrained from providing specific updates on the F1 icon's health, stating: "No. There is only one answer to this question and that is what his son Mick gave in one of his rare interviews in 2022 - 'I would give anything to talk to Dad.'"
Benoit added: "This sentence says everything about how his father has been doing for over 3,500 days. A case without hope."
Mick Schumacher, who drove for Haas in 2021 and 2022 and is now a reserve driver for Mercedes and McLaren, spoke poignantly last year, saying: "I think Dad and me, we would understand each other in a different way now. We would have had much more to talk about, and that is where my head is most of the time, thinking that would be so cool. I would give up everything just for that."
In Netflix's 2021 documentary, Schumacher, the racing champion's wife Corinna broke her eight-year silence. "'Michael is here,' the 54-year-old said. 'Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find. We’re together. We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable.'"
Despite Corinna's devoted care, family friend and Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan revealed that she had refused to let him visit Schumacher.
Jordan also touched upon the hardships Corinna has faced, stating, "She's like a prisoner because everyone would want to talk to her about Michael when she doesn't need reminding of it every minute."
This latest update from Roger Benoit has left fans worldwide grappling with the harsh reality surrounding Schumacher's condition, and yet it also brings a renewed focus on the constant privacy invasion that celebrities and their families face during times of crisis.
As Benoit's tragic words reverberate, one can only hope for a miracle in what seems to be a "case without hope."
