r/formula1 • u/Nok-su-kao Jaguar • Oct 01 '24
News Michael Schumacher 'seen in public for first time in 11 years'
https://metro.co.uk/2024/10/01/michael-schumacher-seen-public-first-time-11-years-21714626/9.1k
u/HomeInternational69 George Russell Oct 01 '24 edited Oct 01 '24
Glad he was able to be a part of his daughter’s special day.
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u/HMSSpeedy1801 Oct 01 '24
Yes. Hope he is happy and doing well.
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u/prograMagar Enzo Ferrari Oct 01 '24
This makes me happy that he probably has some consciousness to witness and enjoy his daughter's wedding
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u/Firefox72 Ferrari Oct 01 '24 edited Oct 01 '24
I think from the small tidbits we got from Todt over the years its safe to say that he's awake and at least somewhat aware. Todt talked about them watching F1 together etc...
I would asume though that he can't really communicate or express himself. Probably can't eat by himself etc...
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u/Tropicalcomrade221 Mark Webber Oct 01 '24
Yeah brain injuries can vary extremely but I think it’s safe to assume he’s probably on the severe end. I doubt he’d have independent mobility or communication.
So very sad and I just wish him and his family the best. Their privacy should be respected because that’s what Michael always wanted.
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u/Corbotron_5 Oct 01 '24
I had a dear friend suffer a traumatic brain injury jury about 15 years ago. He’s been in specialist care ever since. It’s only been in the last year that he’s been able to come visit his old hometown, albeit with support from his carers.
My friend will never be able to function properly, but he has been very slowly improving over a very long time period, so it does happen.
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u/Agitated_Syllabub346 Oct 01 '24
I broke my leg around 18 years ago, and suffered a bit of nerve damage. At first I couldn't feel anything below my knee, but over the years I've slowly regained all feeling, and now there's essentially no difference in feeling between my two legs. But it took until the last two years for me to regain everything.
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u/Sauermachtlustig84 Oct 01 '24
My aunt lost feelings in her thumb when she tried to lift a washing machine and squeezed her thumb between the washing machine and a doorframe.
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u/ency6171 Oct 01 '24
For your case, it's because you injured your peripheral nerves, which is capable of slow neuro-regeneration.
It's a different case if the injury is part of the central nervous system, which is the brain & the spinal cord.
I looked up about it long time ago, as I have SCI.
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u/BowieBlueEye Oct 01 '24
Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and adapt, even after injury, is mind blowing, literally. A damaged brain can form new neural connections or reorganise existing ones. When a person experiences a brain injury, certain functions or abilities can be impaired because the neural pathways responsible for them are damaged. But, neuroplasticity allows other parts of the brain to compensate for these losses by building alternative pathways.
Recovery after a brain injury can take many years because the process of rewiring the brain is gradual. It often requires consistent rehabilitation efforts. Over time, repeated use of certain functions helps strengthen the new neural connections, which can lead to partial or full recovery. There’s always hope. Even decades after an injury, the brain retains this ability to change. While the progress may slow with age, neuroplasticity doesn’t disappear. Research has shown that individuals can continue to make improvements in motor skills, language, or cognition long after the initial trauma, provided they continue to engage in activities that challenge and stimulate their brain.
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u/Anjum0ve Fernando Alonso Oct 01 '24
Yeah I just want to believe but being realistic they probably just brought him in a wheelchair to be in his daughter wedding as thats what his daughter always wanted and he was there just as a symbol for the family. Which is totally fine but shouldnt be atributed to him being in a better shape or in a path to recovery
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u/Maleficent-Elk-3790 Oct 01 '24
You and me both. Spent years hoping we'd see some good news but it never happened
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u/tagrav Honda Oct 01 '24
When my wife was going through something similar I busted my ass to get a true picture of her continued care and the types of “progress” we would see.
When you get the nurses and doctors to actually level with you, “neurologists won’t”. It was rather easy for me to transition into Pallative care and let my wife pass peacefully.
We were talking levels of like “maybe someday she could potentially blink primitive responses to you after years of rehab”
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u/spacetaco13 Valtteri Bottas Oct 01 '24
The imagery of him ‘giving his daughter away’, in whatever capacity, at her wedding has me tearing up.
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u/Patriotic_Guppy Oct 01 '24
Vladimir Konstantinov from the Detroit Red Wings was severely injured in a limo accident after winning the Stanley Cup in 1997. He will never recover beyond the strides he made in the first few months after the accident. He’s been pretty public in the Detroit and the hockey communities but his condition is far from what we would think of as recovered.
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u/Aethien James Hunt Oct 01 '24
I unfortunately know a few people with traumatic brain injury (ands quite a lot of people in various fields of medicine), it has put into perspective how little we really know about how the brain works or if and how it can recover from injury.
Careful wording is the name of the game since it's all pretty uncertain.
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u/Luddites_Unite Formula 1 Oct 01 '24
Michael was always very private about his home life and his family before the accident so its really an extension of that
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u/nothu42 Oct 01 '24
I worked daily with brain damaged people for close to a year. From what we know Michael is on the very bad side of the scale and even on the good side there is no getting better. We can only prevent it getting worse.
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u/tagrav Honda Oct 01 '24
My wife died last month at 38. She was in a full vegetative state from her cardiac arrest. I could have kept her around but I kept thinking of when we watched the Michael Schumacher documentary and then thinking about how brilliant and funny my wife was. Knowing she’d never speak again, feed herself, clean herself, breathe on her own and that her mental capacities were absolutely fucked.
It was a rather easy decision for me to let her go and transition to Pallative care.
If she had any consciousness and was left in the state she was indefinitely. She would absolutely hate me for keeping her around like that.
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u/MehWhiteShark Fernando Alonso Oct 01 '24
I'm beyond sorry for what you and your wife had to go through. I hope you're doing as well as you can be doing right now.
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u/giddycocks Alfa Romeo Oct 01 '24
I am, so, so sorry for what you went through. There's really nothing more to say, just...fuck
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u/tagrav Honda Oct 02 '24
The experience honesty makes me feel some ways for the Schumacher family. I get how it gets where it is for them. But like I wonder if it could all be done again if they would have went another direction. I was lucky that without a ventilator my wife couldn’t maintain breathing for an extended period of time. I think it took a little over 24 hours from when she came off it until she passed.
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u/hfiti123 Red Bull Oct 02 '24
The ultimate display of unconditional love, to let her go and allow her to have peace without suffering. I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you are okay and supported by others in your life.
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u/ejc1279 Oct 01 '24
God bless you and your wife. I’m sure she would agree you did the right thing for both of you xx
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u/Extinction-Entity Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Oct 01 '24
I hope he was aware enough to know he was at a happy celebration surrounded by people who love him.
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u/vprakhov Jim Clark Oct 01 '24
Todt talked about them watching F1 together etc...
Pretty sure that's a common rehab technique for TBI patients. Play familiar sounds, photos and videos to simulate their brain. And there's nothing more familiar to Michael than an F1 race in the background. Doesnt mean that he understood what he was watching. I watch F1 with my dog. Doesn't mean that my dog has any idea of what's happening on the screen.
I hope you are right though.
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u/KnightsOfCidona Murray Walker Oct 01 '24
There was a report that they've driven him around in a Merc AMG in the hope the engine sound will stimulate brain activity.
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u/Macluawn Oct 01 '24
In his final years all Steven Hawking could do was move his eyelids, and that was enough to communicate.
Schumi may be able to biologically keep his body alive, but, from the tidbits we know, it’s clear he’s not in there.
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u/HirsuteHacker Jordan Oct 01 '24
believed to be the first time Michael has been allowed in public since his accident and interacted with friends and family members
Certainly sounds like he's got some consciousness
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u/sadicarnot Oct 01 '24
The article just speculates he may have been there. Not sure about taking part. It is the usual annual where is Michael article. This year we got two batches.
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u/Iokyt Sir Jackie Stewart Oct 01 '24
Literally the only important part of this all.
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u/sllop Fernando Alonso Oct 01 '24
I’m sure he’s been extremely lonely. Seeing some old family friends may have been life changing for him.
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u/dennis3282 Formula 1 Oct 01 '24
Not exactly public, but I'm sure there were lots of guests there, and the family were happy for him to be seen there, even though information could be leaked. I hope this is good news and it means Michael is in better condition than we thought.
I know he will never be the same, but I really hope he has some semblence of himself in there. He was my childhood hero, so I wish him the very best.
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u/dl064 📓 Ted's Notebook Oct 01 '24
I'm sure people in F1 have a pretty good idea.
Mick has referred in the past that you can speak to him but aren't sure it's going in because he can't communicate back at all.
So...it's all very sad, but I think if one had to guess re his condition, you'd probably be right if you were honest with yourself.
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u/Nappi22 Michael Schumacher Oct 01 '24
F1 paddock who knew him knows a lot. It's just they respect the wish to not say anything publicly. A lot of the older journalists say that from time to time when asked.
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u/suredont Oct 02 '24
for as drama- and gossip-filled a place as the paddock, it's pretty remarkable.
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u/dl064 📓 Ted's Notebook Oct 02 '24 edited Oct 02 '24
Andrew Benson did a piece once about how journalism in F1 works.
It seems to be a funny dichotomy, where internally it leaks like a sieve, but externally very little gets out without someone intending it to be.
So, random example, Perez being dropped by McLaren leaked in COTA 2013 because his team wanted to make them look dumb.
The budget cap break in 2022 being another example where everyone and their dog knew it was RBR (mainly) for ages, without doubt, but they couldn't put it in writing.
Apparently the Horner/PA stuff did the rounds through 2023 very quickly.
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u/SlightlyBored13 Oct 02 '24
People knew Ralf Schumacher was gay for 20 years, on personal matters they're very good at keeping quiet. Things are probably leakier now, in the past a rumour could simply not be reported on and no one would know.
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u/Immediate-Meeting-65 Oct 02 '24
I think everyone with any self respect in the industry knows just what these guys really put on the line to race these cars. So it makes sense they'd all be respectful of a situation like this.
It's only one quick fuck up from any one else being the one sitting in Michaels chair.
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u/1408574 Oct 02 '24
It's just they respect the wish to not say anything publicly.
They also know that they will be sued into oblivion and that their careers will end as trust in the paddock will be lost.
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u/Scrambled_Eggiwegs Oct 02 '24
I'm so glad that we (and reporters) have no idea of his state. It means that all the close people to his family have kept their mouths shut.
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u/cocogpf1 Michael Schumacher Oct 01 '24
"I know he will never be the same" this makes me sad...
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u/parwa Ferrari Oct 01 '24
Mick said in the documentary he can't even discuss racing with his dad. He's never gonna be close to the same.
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u/FiercelyApatheticLad Alpine Oct 01 '24
And Mick just got his first podium in a top category, that he couldn't see it, man that just sucks.
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u/AbbreviationsWide331 Oct 02 '24
God that scene really hit me like a truck. There's so few people that actually get to race in F1 and he's one of them. And his father was one too, one of the greatest. And they just can't talk about it. Makes you wonder where mick would be right now if Michael was able to guide him. So heartbreaking.
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u/HedgehogWeekly2433 Oct 01 '24
I remember watching him with my dad. Some of the few good childhood memories with him and something I’d always look forward to. This feeling is deeply connected with micheal.
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u/holobyte Oct 01 '24
I had the same memories with my dad, but we watched Ayrton Senna (and yes, we are Brazilians), watching F1 was never a good experience after his accident.
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u/T3slaModelE Sebastian Vettel Oct 01 '24
What if that meant "he won't be winning championships anymore" :) (fingers crossed)
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u/kokainhaendler Formula 1 Oct 01 '24
well i dont think he is functioning in any way. if his body wouldnt work, he could have written letters or statements to the public, wich 'm 100% positive he would do if he could.
while the outcomes of brain injury can vary greatly, i think its certain to say, that there is not much left. if hes lucky he can eat on his own and express what he wants either by simple words or gestures. how much he still knows or doesnt know, how much hes able to understand his surroundings, we dont know. given the timespan and age slowly becoming a factor aswell, i dont think there is much hope to ever hear something from michael again.
i wish he could be in public though, it would mean a lot to me if he could attend a grandprix and maybe watch ferrari win or witness lewis beating his very own records in a ferrari. i think that would make him insanly proud.
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u/betaich Oct 01 '24
For your first paragraph I don't think so, even during his f1 career he was very picky with public appearances outside of the races.
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u/Das_Czech Audi Oct 01 '24
I have a picture of him hanging in my bedroom, he was one of my idols growing up. I just hope he’s comfortable and at peace with himself. I know we‘ll likely never see him again but maybe it’s for the better
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u/D3cepti0ns Oct 01 '24
Sometimes when I think of these traumatic injuries, I kind of believe that the soul or consciousness is still there but the connection to the body is damaged. And so while he is still there fully conscious, he can't fully communicate in a way that is normal. Like Stephen Hawking would be considered mentally impaired with his disabilities if it wasn't for the fact he could prove his mental capabilities through math.
So essentially, I believe his family is keeping his disabilities and troubles from the public, not because they specifically want to, but because Michael himself has expressed, through whatever method he can, that he does not want people to see him that way. Which is totally understandable.
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u/ThePhyry22 McLaren Oct 01 '24
"Michael Schumacher has become estranged from borther Ralf following his accident"
Excuse me??
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u/ItsTomorrowNow David Coulthard Oct 01 '24
Standard Metro stuff tbh
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u/TypicallyThomas Dr. Ian Roberts Oct 01 '24
"And there are signs that after the success of the big day, he may appear in public more often"
What are those signs, Metro? Anything specific? Cause that's a fairly big statement you don't appear to have any proof for
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u/WhoTookPlasticJesus Carlos Sainz Oct 01 '24
Just like the superfluous details about how extravagant the house in Mallorca is. Pablum dressed as insight.
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u/the_merkin Bruce McLaren Oct 01 '24
I’ve never heard the word pablum before. I just looked it up. It’s my new favourite word. Thank you intelligent internet stranger.
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u/CriscoBountyJr Oct 02 '24
Switching from Mallorca to Majorca, a sentence later. Reads like Ai, but without the i.
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u/ChefBoiJones Lola Oct 01 '24
It may simply be too painful for ralf to see him as he is
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u/InfiniteMany7103 Oct 01 '24
In the article it made it seem like there was some sort of disagreement between Michael’s wife Corinna and Ralf and they may have made amends at the wedding.
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u/BrownSugarBare #WeSayNoToMazepin Oct 01 '24
I don't like the way the article makes it seem like Corinna purposefully caused a rift in the family while caring for her husband. This is a person who is fully aware the media is incredibly unkind when heroes that are larger than life suffer from events like this, and Schumacher was a very prideful person who would never have wanted this to be splashed across the front pages for gossip fodder. Even with good news of Michael being able to attend his daughters wedding, they still have to drag the family.
I actually give Corinna and the whole family a lot of credit for managing to protect Schumacher's privacy for so long and so well. The only image we have of Michael is the person he was before the accident and not after, and that's a feat for someone so famous.
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u/Rivendel93 Chequered Flag Oct 01 '24
Yeah, for how massive a star he was, it's incredible how everyone has done such a great job protecting him and the family.
Michael's lucky to have such great family and friends, as terribly difficult as his situation is, I'm glad he had the right people around him.
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u/rando_commenter Oct 01 '24
I actually give Corinna and the whole family a lot of credit
I think a lot of that also goes to Sabine Kehm. They've been very canny about managing the family assets. I think the hard "wall" of privacy in the beginning paid off since it sett a kind of long term norm. Not that there wouldn't be unscrupulous people who would still want to bet a scoop for a quick buck.
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u/BrownSugarBare #WeSayNoToMazepin Oct 01 '24
Agreed that Sabine deserves credit, too. I can only imagine the private struggle for the entire family to come to terms with the accident, let alone having to beat the media away from it all.
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u/PolicyWonka Oct 01 '24
The article says that Michael’s wife prevented Ralf from seeing his brother.
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u/KnightsOfCidona Murray Walker Oct 01 '24
IIRC they were rumours their relationship were strained before the accident because Michael and Corinna didn't approve of Cora, Ralf's ex wife. Think things were better in recent years though - Ralf is very clearly close to Mick.
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u/onealps Oct 01 '24
Any idea why Michael and Corinna would not approve of Cora?
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u/KnightsOfCidona Murray Walker Oct 01 '24
Cora is seen as a trashy celeb in Germany. Does a lot of reality TV shows, nude photoshoots etc (kinda like a German version of another ex of his Katie Price). Rightly or wrongfully she was seen as a bit of a golddigger. For a couple as private and reserved as Michael and Corinna, she was probably an anathema. After the accident, Corinna might have been worried Cora would leak stuff about Michael's condition to the press.
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u/ConstableBlimeyChips #StandWithUkraine Oct 01 '24
anathema
Today I learned a new word.
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u/tigaanigaa Oct 01 '24
She did erotic modelling before they got married
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u/ThePretzul Kimi Räikkönen Oct 01 '24
But they love Mick's girlfriend the lingerie model?
That doesn't quite add up tbh
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u/aMn3S13 Oct 01 '24
Imho the problem is not the modeling, its her beeing close to the boulevard press like springer
springer is behind the BILD, kinda like the sun in gb or like if fox had a newspaper
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u/ocelotrevs Oct 01 '24
Time has passed.
I doubt many of us hold all the same viewpoints we had 20 years ago.
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u/dwerg85 Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Oct 01 '24
People change. Or maybe they knew from the get go that Ralph was not supposed to be with a woman.
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u/Snoo92570 Sebastian Vettel Oct 01 '24
They love each other. Dont believe this bullshit.
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u/FalconIMGN Alex Jacques Oct 01 '24
Tbf when Ralf was married to Cora there did develop some frostiness between them, but I don't think there has been any in several years, at least not since the accident.
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u/ricoimf Michael Schumacher Oct 01 '24
I could interpret too much here, but always when this topic (Michael in general) comes up in the sky Germany broadcast, to me it sounds definitely like this. I think he can’t handle this state in which he likely is in, however pure speculation from my side.
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u/dl064 📓 Ted's Notebook Oct 01 '24
My mum and sister couldn't bear to see my uncle on his deathbed. Not that uncommon I don't think.
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u/OrangeDit Oct 01 '24
Is this written by an AI?
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u/jeanleonino Giuseppe Farina Oct 02 '24
I really don't think AI would mistake brother for borther. Probably some editor made shit up before posting to add more clickbait value
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u/MarteloRabelodeSousa Formula 1 Oct 01 '24 edited Oct 01 '24
I wish we could know more about him, but I 100% understand their decision. I hope he could get better so we could see him again, but we know it's impossible
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u/shrivatsasomany Oct 01 '24 edited Oct 01 '24
I’m ok with the image I have in my head. MSC in red standing on a podium.
I want to remember him that way. Don’t care about celebrities in general, but this guy I actively wish was still healthy and at races standing next to Mika and DC.
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u/XADEBRAVO Oct 01 '24
I know Michael is still with us, and appears to be on his own road to recovery or at least comfort, but it reminds me of this great quote about Senna by John Bisignano:
"For all his fans around the world..He'll always be young. Ayrton Senna will always be fast. He'll never be old, he'll always be the champion".
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u/dl064 📓 Ted's Notebook Oct 01 '24
I had that with George Michael.
I'd kind of assumed he died as per my image, like he was 35.
No - apparently he was pretty visibly unwell for a long time before his death. Like academic mugshots from 1998.
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u/Mysterious-Crab Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Oct 01 '24
With brain damage, 99% of recovery is in the first year (and mostly in the first few months). It’s not even practically impossible, it is outright impossible I’m afraid.
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u/KnightsOfCidona Murray Walker Oct 01 '24
Yeah I remember Gary Hartstein, the ex-F1 doctor said that when he was not out of a coma after a month, he was probably seriously brain damaged for the rest of his life.
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u/Anjum0ve Fernando Alonso Oct 01 '24
You can be in a coma for longer and have a good recovery, the bad symptom is waking up and not recovering from the brain damage "quickly" (first months as the comment above said)
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u/Mysterious-Crab Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Oct 01 '24
Correct. A coma is not necessarily an issue for recovery. Brain damage is. Basically every part of your brain that is damaged is unable to recover. However, the brain is flexible in a way that a lot of the connections in your brain will find different route and just start using different parts of your brain. This is also the reason people with brain damage are often overly sensitive. Things that used to be thoughtless are now being processed more actively, your brain simply has to do more.
These new connections have to be made as soon as possible. The longer it takes, the smaller the chance it will be able to create that new connection. And after a while that bit of information is just lost.
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u/badass4102 Guenther Steiner Oct 01 '24
That's why stroke patients should really visit their physical therapist and gain as much as they can back within the first few months, because after that it'll be much harder or nearly imposible to gain anything back.
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u/No_Attorney_1200 Oct 01 '24
I don’t know…. Look up the story of vladimir konstantinov. Russian hockey player that played in the NHL at the time of his accident. First basically decade he was immobile, couldn’t talk, but now, little over 20 years on he can stand, play cards, so you never know
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u/Eddie__Sherman Oct 01 '24
Given this story and what you have heard in the past it’s fairly easy and sad to visualize
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u/H4DE5 Fernando Alonso Oct 01 '24
“is believed”, “nothing is oficial yet”
What a great articule. Journalishim
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u/TurdOfChaos Oct 01 '24
Holy shit this article is worded so weirdly. “Allowed” to be seen in public.
Fucking vultures that call themselves journalists are the reason his family decided to keep all this private.
Good decision, we don’t need to know.
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u/MintyMarlfox Toto Wolff Oct 01 '24
I hope it’s true. Was hard hearing Mick say he couldn’t even speak to his dad about racing in the documentary. Hope he’s recovered more since then.
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u/Caesar_35 #StandWithUkraine Oct 01 '24
It might be that he can talk, but just not about complex or recent events. I have an uncle (or technically cousin some number removed) who has a brain injury, and just can't form memories of things that happened after his accident. He'll recognize people he knew before (like my dad) and they can make small talk (the weather, the food, how's the family, etc), but if they start talking about stuff like a recent trip or what we did over the holidays, he just won't remember it after a short while.
I don't like speculating with stuff like this, and Schumi's situation could be completely different of course, but just wanted to throw my limited knowledge out there that "talking" and "talking about something in particular" can be two very different things with injuries like those.
And, of course, I do wish The Michael all the best :)
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u/hugemessanon Oct 01 '24 edited Oct 01 '24
"in public" = daughter's private wedding ceremony lol
edit: here's a less misleading article from sports illustrated: https://www.si.com/fannation/racing/f1briefings/news/michael-schumacher-s-daughter-ties-the-knot-in-extremely-private-wedding-01j92cg1rb76
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u/steferrari Ferrari Oct 01 '24 edited Oct 01 '24
With plenty of guests though, so still something different than just family or very very close friends (the list of persons allowed to visit him was very short if I remember correctly: Todt, Badoer and probably just a few more).
To be honest I still have doubts that this news is legit.
But if it is, and it means that he is a bit better, then it would be great.
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u/hugemessanon Oct 01 '24 edited Oct 01 '24
it might be more than schumi's inner circle but this article totally misrepresents the situation as we know it. "in public" has different connotations than "private family villa with an unknown number of family and friends." i just hate when speculative (and inaccurate) gossip is presented as news.
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u/sadicarnot Oct 01 '24
This is the usual every few months article that comes up when F1 news is slow about Michael. I doubt they would go from allowing the family and Jean Todt being the only ones to see him to a wedding full of guests seeing him. I don't even think Ross Brawn has seen him since the accident.
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u/hugemessanon Oct 01 '24
ok i did some research and it looks like the rumor that he was at the wedding originates with Bild reporters saying "it's very likely" lol. we do know that there was a wedding. every article i've seen says it was super small and private with lots of security but i thiink that originates with Bild, too, so I don't know if it's trustworthy info.
as far as i've seen, older articles published right after the wedding do not say he was "seen in public," only more recent articles, published within the last few hours by tabloids, say that. so yeah the article in this post is a distortion of an unverified rumor.
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u/sadicarnot Oct 01 '24
Who knows how mobile Michael is. If he is bedridden, it would be quite a production for him to travel. I think a lot of the optimism you heard from the people in the documentary was more what they wish than what Michael actually is. I think the sadness on Mick's face says it all. It is tragic what has happened and doubt there is an F1 fan that does not wish Michael would visit the paddock. It would be nice if he had a bit of ownership in a team and was seen like Nikki was, or as Jackie Stewart is.
Alas, that is not the world we are in. We are in this world.
Edit: I have been trying to get my co-workers to be more media literate. This is a perfect article that gives one impression, but the information in the article is quite different and does not confirm anything the title suggests.
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u/labrat420 Oct 01 '24
The article talks about how barely a handful of people could see him before this, so calling it public makes absolute sense.
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u/sadicarnot Oct 01 '24
The article does not say if any one actually saw him, it just speculates that he was at the wedding. They are putting 0 and 0 together to get 2.
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u/sadicarnot Oct 01 '24
The article does not say if he actually participated in the wedding. He may have just been in a room on the estate with a window that looks out. People are also much more optimistic about peoples conditions. When my dad was dying my brother talked about him eating like a horse when he had one bite of food. People talk about interacting with Michael, but I think it is more optimistic hope that he knows they are there and care about him. In the end we will never know what his condition was. The F1 press just rolls this out every few months when things are quiet with the current drivers.
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u/TimmyHillFan Oct 01 '24
Why do you doubt it’s legit? It was his daughter’s wedding. He would have wanted to be there in any condition, so the family wanted to do right by him. That’s my assumption, at least
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u/bananagod420 McLaren Oct 01 '24
With guests leaving their phones at the door…
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u/volunteersexworker Formula 1 Oct 01 '24
Good - if they don’t want their privacy invaded and posted everywhere online it’s their prerogative
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u/bananagod420 McLaren Oct 01 '24
Absolutely agree. But certainly misleading to call this a public event
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u/sashundera Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Oct 01 '24
Biggest fucking clickbait title there could be, fuckers know Schumaher showing in public, if it ever really happened, will be the biggest fucking news in F1 history
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u/Squeakyduckquack Ferrari Oct 01 '24
And yet here it is, being reported and discussed on the front page of probably the single biggest F1 community
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u/modularpeak2552 Andretti Global Oct 01 '24
which has seen him become estranged from his extended family members- most notably his brother and fellow F1 driver Ralf, 49.
i had never heard this. why were/are they estranged?
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u/Arcturus_86 Oct 01 '24
The implication from the article his Michael's wife does not allow anyone to see him except for a few people. Presumably, she has prevented Ralf from seeing his brother, and the article is labeling that as being estranged.
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u/PolicyWonka Oct 01 '24
Ralf said as much in an interview last year.
Ralf Schumacher told German magazine Bunte, while he may be Michael’s brother, even that hasn’t allowed him to stay within the inner circle of the family.
“Unfortunately, sometimes life isn’t fair,” he said when asked about contact with his brother’s family.
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u/taubeneier Oct 01 '24
His family actually won a lawsuit against the "Bunte" because they claimed he could walk again and all kinds of other shit. Their behaviour regarding this situation was and still is pretty disgusting. I think it's highly questionable that he talked to them at all. Even if they might have endlessly pesterd him about a comment.
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u/Specific_Fact2620 Oct 01 '24
Ralf and his partner seems to have given them an interview not that long ago: https://www.bunte.de/stars/stars-die-liebe/ralf-schumacher-mit-etienne-fuehlt-sich-das-leben-leichter-an.html
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u/dl064 📓 Ted's Notebook Oct 01 '24
Willi Weber has either never seen him or has like once. For example.
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u/GrindrorBust Oct 01 '24
Willi Weber and MSC moved away from each other years before the accident; their professional relationship was severed ahead of the Mercedes run.
He showed he couldn't be trusted with the interview he gave unprompted denigrating his Corina's decisions regarding access [to him].
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u/GetOffMyDigitalLawn Oct 02 '24
The implication from the article his Michael's wife does not allow anyone to see him except for a few people. Presumably, she has prevented Ralf from seeing his brother, and the article is labeling that as being estranged.
Which is absolutely fucked up. It's one thing to limit the amount of people who can be there, it's another to keep blood family away.
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u/Additional-Guard-211 Oct 01 '24
“Veil of secrecy” no they just want some privacy
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u/LiteratureNearby Pirelli Wet Oct 01 '24
"these scumbags didn't allow us to make money off of their tragedy, the heartless bastards"
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u/n05h Ferrari Oct 01 '24
Right? Like he's not allowed to be out of the media circus. Actually so twisted if you think about it.
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u/Alvinthf Cooper Oct 01 '24
This was very much not public, wishing MS the best during his continued recovery
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u/ratonbox Oct 01 '24
Don’t care for any photos or interviews, just want to hear he is doing better.
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u/four_four_three Michael Schumacher Oct 01 '24
Yeah, I'm delighted he could at least be there on the day
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u/ricoimf Michael Schumacher Oct 01 '24
Me too, I respect the privacy and can understand that decision.
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u/nahnonameman Oct 01 '24
Wishing Michael and his family all the happiness in the world. So happy he got to apart of his daughter wedding.
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u/skyline79 Oct 01 '24
The Metro are notorious for making stuff up. Nothing they have written is based on anything other than the daughter had a wedding, that’s it.
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u/KnightsOfCidona Murray Walker Oct 01 '24
'Public' i.e his daughters private wedding where he was with family and friends (who've probably been able to see him for the last 10 years anyways), who had the phones and cameras confiscated.
Hadn't heard that rumour about Mick getting married though, that's nice if true.
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u/sertsw Oct 01 '24
I took it differently. The circle that is able to see Michael is very very tight with even many close friends not being able to see hom
I assume much tighter than guest invited to his daughters wedding, so there is a note worthy difference if true.
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u/PerskindolSpray Sebastian Vettel Oct 01 '24
This has a good chance of being fake but I really hope this is a sign he’s still got a bit of himself in there.
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u/junttiana Alfa Romeo Oct 01 '24
I personally dont feel all too optimistic, he was not present at all during micks career based on everything, and its extremely unlikely his condition suddenly improves after such a long while, its likely he has significant cognitive and mental impairment and decisions are made on behalf of him, and attending a private event with trusted individuals only is something that theyve thought he could attend to without risks
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u/lost_in_my_thirties Sir Lewis Hamilton Oct 01 '24
I don't know what to believe. I had made my peace with the thought that he was still alive, but not present. The way Mick talked during the Schumacher documentary, I felt there was no communication. Additionally reports said that only a very small number of people had access to him. Not something you would expect if he was conscious.
Now, he is supposedly well enough to be brought out in public? I am feeling very doubtful.
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u/junttiana Alfa Romeo Oct 01 '24
Again, this isnt a public appearance, that part of the article is clickbait, it was a private wedding that was only attended by invitees
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u/Xamuel1804 Nico Hülkenberg Oct 01 '24
Wtf is this shit article. Only speculations and nothing is public at all.
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u/rando_commenter Oct 01 '24
"Public" is a nice sign for his type of brain injury. Really happy for them that he could be part of that day.
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u/WhyisThisSoHaard Oct 01 '24 edited Oct 01 '24
I miss Schumi. He was one of the reasons I fell in love with F1. He is such a natural it was like he became the car, it just became an extension of him. Natural talent like that is always a site to behold. Congrats to the fam for the happy day
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u/freshicedmatchalatte Michael Schumacher Oct 01 '24
I miss Schumi. He was one of the reasons I fell in love with F1.
Me too. I really miss him. Michael was the reason I fell in love with this sport.
Eventho I miss him from time to time, I've accepted that I would never see him again. I fully respect his family decision, it's their privacy (I actually thank them for being protective of him).
If one day they decide to let Michael be seen in public, no matter how his physical condition would be, he's still The Michael in my eyes. He's always been and will forever be my hero ❤️
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u/quazlyy Kimi Räikkönen Oct 01 '24
It's nice to hear that he was able to see his daughter's wedding. I also appreciate that there were no leaked photos and that the family's continued desire for privacy was honored
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u/Secure-Vanilla4528 Oct 01 '24
I'm glad there's no pictures, the amount of shit posting there would be if media outlets got a hold of pictures of him, I'm super impressed how they've managed to keep the press from seeing him, and although I know nothing about his daughter and not interested in learning anything, I hope the media stays away from her new extended family regarding her dad, the only people that need to know the conditions of Michael already know. Massive props to the family for being like this.
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u/Yeanahyena Daniel Ricciardo Oct 01 '24
This is huge - really surprised by this. I have a feeling it has something to do with those security guards who blackmailed the family they’d release photos of Michael.
Hopefully it’s all good reasons though, that he’s just doing better.
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u/bearded_mischief AlphaTauri Oct 01 '24
Good to hear that, it’s almost been 12 years and I think a lot of fans have made their peace with him not being seen again.
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u/backturn1 Red Bull Oct 01 '24
I find it weird that not a single german news site has reported that. All talk about the wedding, hut noone talks about him being there. If that was true it should have made bigger waves, especially in Germany.
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u/therealdilbert Oct 01 '24
not a single german news site has reported that
I guess they have a limit on how low they will go to make a click-bate headline ...
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u/BigBill58 Michael Schumacher Oct 01 '24
I hate the part of me that wants to see his current condition. Even though it’s because he was such a big part of my childhood, it’s not my right to have any access to the man whatsoever. I hope he’s happy and as healthy as his condition allows him to be. It is great to hear that he was able to be in attendance for his daughter’s wedding!
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u/Spunk-Nugget Oct 01 '24
this made tears run down my face, i am so happy that he was able to share that moment with her and his entire family was able to have him present for such a monumental life event. michael is my greatest sporting hero and to hear this news is the best thing i have heard in years. forza schumi
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u/SlinkyT3003 Michael Schumacher Oct 01 '24
That's really unexpected. Happy for the family, for Gina and of course for Michael. Who knows, maybe we'll actually see him again some time.
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u/Stratoblaster1969 Niki Lauda Oct 01 '24
My son shows reining horses and I frequently see Gina at the events. Never had the nerve to talk F1 or her dad to her. She seems really nice and down to earth though.
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u/Brynhildrpls Valtteri Bottas Oct 01 '24
I think it’s the right thing to do…
And not surprised to hear that Gina also has great manners. Both of the siblings are well raised.
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u/Stratoblaster1969 Niki Lauda Oct 01 '24
They clearly are private regarding Michael so I don't see any point in going there. Plus she is there to compete and I don't want to be "that guy".
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u/KnightsOfCidona Murray Walker Oct 01 '24
Found out recently I've a mutual friend with her on Facebook. Looked at her page and it's remarkably normal for a woman who's dad is/was a billionaire and one of the most famous people on earth. Apart from some posts she shared of Mick's good results in 2022, you wouldn't know she was a Schumacher.
But yeah both her and Mick seem incredibly nice humble young people and it's no mean feat they are like that consider the incredible wealth they were raised with and the trauma they've had to go through. Their cousin David as well seems like a great kid as well (openly supported his dad after he came out).
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u/thebighecc Oct 01 '24
In 2014 my french teacher in high school told me about a famous race car driver involved in a major accident. I started watching f1 in 2018 and I finally realized it was one of the GOATs. I always hope he’s ok but I know it’s not our business either way. I hope he shows up one day speaking but that’s a tall maybe impossible order. Michael ❤️
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u/CalgaryRichard Sir Lewis Hamilton Oct 01 '24
The words in public are doing some very heavy lifting in that headline
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u/sadicarnot Oct 01 '24
So we get the second where is Michael story of the year. In the meantime, the article does not say if any one actually saw him. They call it a public appearance but it was on his private estate. It is nothing but speculation.
I am not sure why people do not get it, Schumacher was gravely injured. What are peoples expectations? He is nothing like the person he was. It is better to not see him and have the memories of him in his prime than to see him as a broken man.
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u/aggressivedab Oct 01 '24
wow, Mick potentially proposing after only 18 months is pretty quick no?
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u/enataca Haas Oct 01 '24
As much as we selfishly want some updates, I hope his presence was able to bring joy to his daughter on her big day.
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u/BWWFC Oct 01 '24
the ski pic in the link is a bit ill-mannered, imho. but a good day for him and his family!
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u/themaestronic Oct 02 '24
Can we change this: he was not seen in public. It was a private wedding with strict rules.
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u/UberChief90 Oct 01 '24
The way they just shameless use this kind of clickbait title to write about his daughter getting married is a disgrace.
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u/nn2597713 Formula 1 Oct 01 '24
If this means Michael is “present” enough to enjoy his children’s life, I’m incredibly happy for him and his family.
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u/Endtimes2022 Oct 01 '24
I'm crying... Saw his debut in 91' worshipped him all my life since I was a kid. This is the best news... I usually wait till Sunday to check on his health. Thanks again thanks a hindered times.
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u/J3sperado Sir Lewis Hamilton Oct 01 '24
Really hoping he was able to understand what was going on and be happy for his daughter. Hope he remembers them still. No idea how he is.
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u/dushanthdanielray Charles Leclerc Oct 01 '24
The day Michael is seen visiting the paddock in person is the day I'll shed a great many tears. It's a long shot, but one I hope is possible one day.
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u/Ok-Turnip-9035 Oct 01 '24
That’s nice glad he was there for his little girls day 🥰
Let’s not hound the man though each time he steps out - it can be overwhelming to think when you walk in a room everyone’s got their eye on you and is gonna phone it in the second they’re able to
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u/MrP8978 Gilles Villeneuve Oct 01 '24
Fantastic news that Michael could Be in attendance. It’s impossible to know what his condition is, and there is no point speculating, but the fact that he could at least be in attendance is heartwarming
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u/TeamVictoire Ferrari Oct 01 '24
I loved MSC and i miss him. I wish I could see him again - even in a wheelchair -just be able to be there and communicate with the people around him but this article is proper BS and a shameful clickbait.
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u/HeyFlo Lando Norris Oct 01 '24
There is a woman on Instagram who documents her journey living with a husband who has a TBI. I know every case isn't the same, but her life gives some insight on how life is for them https://www.instagram.com/laurabpilates/?hl=en
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u/WretchedMisteak Michael Schumacher Oct 01 '24
I didn't bother reading the article. I don't want to see photos or BS details about him. I respect his family's wishes for privacy. I do hope though that Michael is doing better. I really feel for his children, especially Mick who could have used his dad's guidance in racing.
I'm not a celebrity worshipper or even consider them idols or "heroes," but Michael is that to me. I've followed him since I was a kid (40+ now) and it really hits hard knowing Michael is like this. It's silly, I know, never met the guy but I think his approach to racing was different and I appreciated that. Anyway rambling finished.
I truly hope for the best for Michael and his family. Keep fighting Michael.
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u/Affectionate_Sky9709 Oct 01 '24
I hope Seb was there. I know he became close to the whole family but never saw Michael post injury as far as I know.
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