After more than 12 years, Michael Schumacher reportedly has made a huge step in his recovery from a serious head injury suffered while skiing.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, the Formula 1 legend no longer is bedridden and “is now sitting up in a wheelchair.”
Schumacher sustained a serious head injury after falling and hitting his head on a rock while skiing in the French Alps in December 2013. He has not been seen in public since suffering the injury, with his family and close friends being incredibly secretive about the status of his health.
The racing star has been tended to by his wife, Corinna, and a team of medical professionals including nurses and therapists who reportedly “keep a 24-hour watch” at his luxurious homes in Majorca, Spain, and Gland, on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
It has been speculated that Schumacher is suffering from “locked-in” syndrome and only is able to communicate through blinking, though the recent report refuted that claim.
“The feeling is he understands some of the things going on around him, but probably not all of them,” the source told the Daily Mail.
Schumacher’s intense privacy
Although Schumacher has not been photographed in public since the tragic accident, he has been visited by close friends at his residences and also reportedly made an appearance at his daughter’s wedding in September 2024.
Gina-Marie Schumacher wed Iain Bethke at the family’s luxurious villa on the Spanish island of Majorca. The four-acre estate, which was purchased in 2017 from Real Madrid chairman Florentino Perez, has its own helipad which is used to transport Michael from his family home in Switzerland to the 15,000-square-metre villa.
Privacy at the wedding was closely guarded, with guests required to leave their phones at the door before entering. It was believed to be the first time Michael has been in public, interacting with friends and family members since his accident.
In 2025, three individuals were found guilty of attempted blackmail against the Schumacher family with charges stemming from a threat to upload hundreds of videos and photos to the dark web unless a multimillion-dollar payment was made.
Schumacher’s place in F1 history
Schumacher is one of the greatest drivers to ever compete in F1. The German driver and Lewis Hamilton share the record for most World Drivers Championships with seven each, while Schumacher’s 91 grands prix victories ranks second all-time behind the Brit.
His son, Mick, competed in Formula 1 for two seasons with the Haas team, but could only muster 12 points across his 43 starts.