German star Schumacher continues fighting as F1 season begins

MELBOURNE: As Formula One drivers prepare for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix next weekend, Michael Schumacher continues a very different fight far away.

There remains huge respect for the seven-time F1 champion who, more than four years after a near-fatal brain injury in a skiing accident, is still being cared for at home in the quiet Swiss town of Gland on the shores of Lake Geneva.

He’s been treated there since September 2014.

The thick forest surrounding his castle-like home provides sanctuary from fan and media intrusion with high surrounding walls.

While his family fiercely protects his privacy, Schumacher’s reputation still towers over F1, and fans of all ages continue to adore him.

“What can be said is that the family really appreciates the empathy of the fans,” Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm said on Friday.

“The people really do see and understand (his health situation) is not to be shared in the public eye.”

The current condition of the 49-year-old German’s health remains closely guarded.

Kehm would not comment on it when asked by reporters.

On March 18, 2012 – exactly six years ago – Schumacher began the last season of his F1 career at the Australian GP in Melbourne.

He secured the last of his mammoth 155 podiums that year at the European GP in Valencia on June 24, 2012, before retiring definitively at the age of 43.

In his last race, Schumacher finished seventh behind Sebastian Vettel.

It felt somewhat like a changing of the guard, with Vettel growing up with posters of his German countryman on his wall.

A little more than a year later, Schumacher was fighting for his life.

While skiing with his teenage son Mick in the French Alps at Meribel, Schumacher fell on Dec 29, 2013.

He hit the right side of his head on a rock, splitting open his helmet.

Doctors worked frantically to remove blood clots from his brain, but some were left because they were too deeply embedded.

Schumacher’s condition stabilised after he was placed in a drug-induced coma, from which he later emerged.

Following his accident, updates went from scarce to non-existent as those around him sought to protect his privacy.

Understandably so, amid fears stolen medical records were going to be sold and unsourced speculation saying Schumacher had slowly started walking again. Reported figures estimated his

€ treatment at more than 23mil (RM111mil) and counting.

The exasperated family stopped communicating altogether.

“Michael’s health is not a public issue, and so we will continue to make no comment in that regard,” Kehm said.

“Legally seen and in the longer term, every statement related to his health would diminish the extent of his intimate sphere.”

That statement was made 16 months ago.