Michael Schumacher Recovery Update: Former Ferrari Boss Calls Situation ‘Very Sad’

Michael Schumacher’s former Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo has provided a stark update on the German Formula 1 icon, calling his plight “very sad.”

Schumacher is still recovering from the traumatic head injuries he suffered back in December 2013 during a ski accident that originally left him in a coma for several months.

And while being inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Detroit, former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo spoke about the seven-time Formula One world champion and even dedicated the honor to the ailing driver.

Di Montezemolo declared during his acceptance speech, via Grand Prix, “I don’t know if I would have received this award without him. It is dedicated to him, because he is trying to win his toughest race.”

Di Montezemolo also spoke glowingly about how close he still is to Schumacher, explaining, “He was not only someone I worked with but above all a friend with whom I shared so much. To know that he now lies in bed for such a long time is very sad.”

Michael Schumacher is regarded as the most successful Formula One driver in the history of the sport. During his illustrious career, which saw him race with Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari, and Mercedes, Schumacher managed to claim the most world championships, race victories, fastest laps, pole positions, and race wins in a single season. Most of these honors were recorded while Schumacher worked alongside Luca Di Montezemolo at Ferrari.

Schumacher ultimately retired in 2012. But then, just over a year later, he was involved in a tragic accident in the French Alps that has left him perilously ill for two years now.

Schumacher hit his head on a rock while on an off-piste area, and doctors have admitted that if he wasn’t wearing a helmet, the driver would probably now be dead. Schumacher was then placed into a medically induced coma, which he remained in until April of 2014.

Schumacher has since made a steady improvement to the point that he ultimately left his Swiss hospital in September 2014 and returned to his home for rehabilitation. However, this has come at a weekly cost of over $150,000 to his family.

It has since been alleged that Schumacher is paralyzed, in a wheelchair, cannot speak, and has memory problems. In May 2015, Schumacher’s manager, Sabine Kehm, confirmed that his condition was slowly improving, especially considering how drastic nature of his injury.

[Image via Spox]