A trusted confidant of Michael Schumacher has shed light on the racing legend’s private health battle, years after his life was upended by a devastating skiing accident. Flavio Briatore—former Benetton team principal and longtime associate of Schumacher—recently broke his silence, offering rare insight into the condition of the seven-time Formula 1 world champion. This revelation came in the wake of Schumacher signing a commemorative helmet alongside other F1 titans, a deeply symbolic act completed with the assistance of his wife, Corinna.
Schumacher’s catastrophic injury occurred merely a year after his retirement, when a skiing mishap in the French Alps necessitated emergency airlift and intensive treatment in Grenoble. Since then, his condition has been heavily veiled in secrecy, safeguarded by a tight circle of family and friends. Only a select few have been granted access to his residence in Gland, Switzerland, where he continues to be cared for in seclusion. This cloak of privacy has only intensified public speculation and concern over the extent of his incapacitation.
Briatore, who managed Schumacher during his championship-winning years at Benetton in the 1990s, disclosed that he has chosen not to visit his friend post-accident. His reasoning is deeply personal: he prefers to preserve the memory of Schumacher as a vigorous, triumphant competitor. In a candid interview with Corriere della Sera, Briatore hinted that Schumacher may now be bedridden, painting a somber contrast to the energetic figure etched in the minds of fans worldwide.
Despite not being physically present, Briatore maintains close contact with Corinna Schumacher and remains emotionally invested in the family’s journey. He elaborated in a separate interview that their last in-person encounter was months before the accident, at a boxing match in Germany. Since then, he has consciously avoided witnessing his friend in a diminished state, choosing instead to honor the legacy of a man who once defined greatness on the track.
In a powerful act of solidarity and hope, Schumacher contributed to a noble cause by adding his initials to a specially designed helmet signed by every living F1 world champion. Orchestrated to benefit Sir Jackie Stewart’s “Race Against Dementia” foundation, this gesture served as a rare, poignant public moment for the otherwise reclusive icon. Stewart acknowledged Corinna’s role in helping her husband complete the signature, calling it a touching and necessary addition to an elite brotherhood of champions.
