Michael Schumacher’s family release rare health update
The Formula 1 legend, who turns 50 tomorrow, is receiving medical care at the family home near Lake Geneva

Stricken Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher will turn 50 this week and his family have marked the occasion with a rare update on his health.
The seven-time world champion fell and hit his head in a skiing accident five years ago and spent six months in a coma. Since then he has been cared for at his home near Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
In the statement his family said: “You can be sure that he is in the very best of hands and that we are doing everything humanly possible to help him. Please understand if we are following Michael’s wishes and keeping such a sensitive subject as [his] health... in privacy.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“At the same time we say thank you very much for your friendship and wish you a healthy and happy... 2019.”
The statement announced the release this week of an app and thanked fans for their support.
“As a gift to him, you and us, Keep Fighting Foundation has created a virtual museum. The Official Michael Schumacher App will be released tomorrow, so that we can review all together Michael’s successes. The app is another milestone in our effort to do justice to him and you, his fans, by celebrating his accomplishments. We wish you a lot of fun with it.
“Michael can be proud of what he has achieved, and so are we! That’s why we remember his successes with the Michael Schumacher Private Collection exhibition in Cologne, by publishing memories in social media and by continuing his charitable work through the Keep Fighting Foundation. We want to remember and celebrate his victories, his records and his jubilation.”
The message is significant says the Daily Mirror as “previous statements regarding Schumacher’s closely guarded health have been released by his management company, rather than directly from the family”.
Last month, the Daily Mail reported that Schumacher was no longer bed-ridden and was undergoing extensive nursing and therapy at his home in Switzerland.
Ferrari, with whom Schumacher won five of his world titles, will host a special exhibition at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello in Italy to mark the driver’s 50th birthday.
Former Ferrari boss Ross Brawn, who is now managing director of F1, says he agrees with the family about keeping Schumacher’s condition private.
“I am constantly in touch with [Schumacher's wife] Corinna and I totally agree with their decision,” he said
“Michael has always been a very private person and that’s been a guiding principle in his career, his life. His family always agreed with that choice.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
May 31 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include how much to pay for a pardon, medical advice from a brain worm, and a simple solution to the national debt.
-
5 costly cartoons about the national debt
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on the USA's financial hole, rare bipartisan agreement, and Donald Trump and Mike Johnson.
-
Green goddess salad recipe
The Week Recommends Avocado can be the creamy star of the show in this fresh, sharp salad
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Speed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Speed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Speed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
-
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender first
Speed Read New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will make history at Tokyo 2020
-
Sport shorts: Champions League expansion plan to be agreed
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Joachim Low and the Lions women’s team
-
Sport shorts: Sturgeon slams Rangers fans over title celebrations
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Keely Hodgkinson and Bryson DeChambeau
-
Sport shorts: Klopp’s unwanted record as Liverpool lose again at Anfield
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Tiger Woods and Tom Brady