Only one F1 driver allowed to visit Michael Schumacher as 'inner circle' emerges
Access to Michael Schumacher has been limited to a very small pool of guests since 2013.
Only one Formula One driver has reportedly been able to visit Michael Schumacher since his skiing accident whilst on a family trip to the French Alps in December 2013.
The 55-year-old has been totally absent from the public since the incident, where he sustained a life-changing brain injury and needed to undergo two rounds of life-saving brain surgery at Grenoble Hospital.
Schumacher remains under the close supervision of wife Corinna and only a tightly controlled circle are able to speak with the legendary driver, though it has now emerged that the German reportedly made a public appearance at his daughter’s wedding recently.
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The ceremony took place at the family’s Port d’Andratx resort, with guests reportedly given a strict dress code and having their mobile devices confiscated to ensure that images of the day and the property were not shared online.
The Schumacher family have kept their ‘inner circle’ tight since the accident, with GP Blog reporting that former Ferrari star Felipe Massa is the only driver that can visit his ex-teammate whenever he wants.
Luca Badoer is also cited as a ‘regular visitor’. The Italian was a test driver at Ferrari when Schumacher raced for the Scuderia and they remained friends after he moved on, as did ex-Ferrari team boss Jean Todt, who can also visit freely.
Corrina has spoken previously about how she is keen to ensure that Michael retains privacy and that his ongoings do not play out publicly, with some individuals being cut from the ‘inner circle’ after openly discussing the condition of the German driver.
Todt has spoken several times about Schumacher since the accident, telling L’Equipe last year: “Michael is here, so I don’t miss him.
"[But he] is simply not the Michael he used to be. He is different and is wonderfully guided by his wife and children who protect him. His life is different now and I have the privilege of sharing moments with him. That’s all there is to say. Unfortunately, fate struck him ten years ago. He is no longer the Michael we knew in Formula One."
Michael’s brother Ralf also agreed with the sentiment of the message, conceding that the 55-year-old is not the man that he once was due to the impact of the injuries and surgery.
