Michael Schumacher’s condition, leaked pictures and missing hard drive | F1 | Sport

It’s been over a year since the world was reacting to news about Formula One icon Michael Schumacher, following reports he had made his first public appearance in more than a decade. Schumacher, now 56, was reportedly seen at his daughter Gina Maria’s wedding at their family villa in Majorca last September in what would have represented his first public outing in 11 years. German press claimed that he was present to witness the joyous occasion, with guests asked to leave their mobiles at the door to prevent any unauthorised photos of Schumacher being taken.

These reports were later dismissed as ‘fake news’ by those close to the Schumacher family. Yet, the frenzy they ignited not only highlighted the enduring affection for Schumacher worldwide but also the ongoing intrigue surrounding his health, which has been closely guarded by his inner circle since his life-altering accident 12 years ago. In December 2013, the seven-time F1 world champion suffered a severe head injury while skiing in the French Alps after falling and striking his head on a rock, causing his helmet to split in two. He was immediately rushed to hospital and placed in a medically induced coma for several months, before being moved back to his family home on Lake Geneva the following year.

After the sentencing, the Schumachers’ solicitor, Thilo Damm, confirmed the family’s plans to appeal the sentences, which he deemed too lenient for what he termed the «ultimate betrayal». «We do not agree with everything the court said. You can rest assured that we will exhaust all legal possibilities at our disposal,» Damm said.

However, worryingly, the lawyer also disclosed that a hard drive remained unaccounted for despite extensive searches of the defendants’ homes, with another threat to Schumacher and his family still a possibility.

«We don’t know where the missing hard drive is,» he added. «I don’t have a crystal ball but there is the possibility of another threat through the backdoor.»

Since the accident, Schumacher has required constant medical care from his wife Corinna and a team of healthcare professionals. Details about his condition have been understandably kept private by those close to him, with only a select few allowed to visit, and no significant information about his health has been made public.

Despite this, many have attempted to gain insight into the legendary driver’s condition, leading to his family being targeted with numerous rumours, stories, and shocking blackmail attempts in the years following his accident. To distinguish between fact and fiction, here is what we know about Schumacher’s current situation.

What we know about Schumacher’s condition

Recently, there have been reports suggesting Schumacher’s health may be improving, more than 10 years after his life-altering accident. However, these reports, such as his alleged attendance at his daughter’s wedding, are believed to be inaccurate.

The claim that he signed a helmet for racing legend Jackie Stewart for a charity event earlier this year was also proven false. It was later revealed that the helmet was signed with the assistance of Corinna.

Recent updates from close friends suggest that Schumacher remains largely bedridden and unable to communicate verbally. In June, Flavio Briatore, Schumacher’s former F1 manager, reminisced: «If I close my eyes, I see him smiling after a victory. I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed. Corinna and I talk often, though.»

Earlier this year, German broadcaster Felix Görner, another friend of Schumacher’s, revealed the sad reality that the F1 legend is «dependent on caregivers», adding: «He is a person… who can no longer express himself through language. It’s a very sad state of affairs.

«He was actually a hero, an indestructible hero,» Görner added. «We’re just clinging to hope, to a straw. But he’s simply not well, so we won’t see him again.»

German media reported in 2023 that Schumacher receives round-the-clock care from a team of up to 15 people. A court heard earlier this year that he was «partly helpless, in need of care and visibly marked» by his injuries, with leaked images purportedly showing him in a hospital bed and wheelchair, as well as connected to medical equipment.

The missing hard drive

Schumacher’s family have fiercely protected his privacy, which led to them being targeted in a horrifying £12 million blackmail plot, resulting in three men being convicted over the crime in February this year.

Nightclub bouncer Yilmaz Tozturkan, 53, was sentenced to three years in prison after threatening the Schumacher family by demanding they pay him £12m to prevent him from leaking 900 personal photos, nearly 600 videos and confidential medical records to the dark web.

Markus Fritsche, also 53, worked for a security company hired to safeguard the family residence, and faced allegations of plotting to steal photographs and medical details from a computer before handing them to Tozturkan. Fritsche received a two-year suspended sentence following proceedings at Wuppertal district court, whilst Tozturkan’s son Daniel Lins – a computer expert – was given a six-month suspended sentence.

Schumacher’s inner circle

To maintain secrecy around his condition, only a select group of trusted family members and friends have been permitted to visit Schumacher and learn the private details of his situation since his accident. A report in The Telegraph, quotes Briatore’s former wife Elisabetta Gregoraci as saying: «Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes,» adding that «only three people can visit him and I know who they are.»

The identities of those three are reported to be Ferrari legends Jean Todt and Ross Brawn, the team principal during Schumacher’s time with the racing giants. Former driver Gerhard Berger is believed to be the third.

Also amongst Schumacher’s trusted circle is his manager Sabine Kehm, the German journalist having worked for the icon’s family for more than 25 years. She currently handles his business matters and is privy to the details of his condition, which she has helped shield from public scrutiny.

In 2016, Kehm pledged to safeguard Schumacher’s privacy, releasing a statement that declared: «Michael’s health is not a public issue, and so we will continue to make no comment in that regard.

«We have to protect his intimate sphere. Legally seen and in the longer term, every statement related to his health would diminish the extent of his intimate sphere.»

Meanwhile, in a 2021 Netflix documentary about Schumacher, his wife Corrina emphasised the significance of maintaining her husband’s condition away from prying eyes, explaining: «We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives.

«It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us, and now we are protecting Michael.»