Flavio Briatore, the former team principal of Michael Schumacher at Benetton, has recently opened up about the seven-time Formula 1 champion’s current state. Schumacher suffered a critical head injury in a skiing accident in December 2013, resulting in a traumatic brain injury that has inflicted lifelong complications. Since then, he has remained out of the public eye, with his family choosing to maintain strict privacy regarding his health.
While it has been uncertain whether Briatore stays in touch with Schumacher’s family, he disclosed that he speaks frequently with Corinna Schumacher, Michael’s wife. The two were spotted together during a recent Grand Prix event in June. Briatore played a pivotal role in Schumacher’s career, having recruited him to the Benetton team in 1992, and overseeing his first two World Championships in 1994 and 1995.
In an interview with the Italian publication Corriere della Sera, Briatore suggested that Schumacher is now largely bed-bound. He expressed his reluctance to visit Schumacher since the accident, preferring to remember him as he was—smiling after race victories. This aligns with previous comments made by Briatore’s ex-wife, who highlighted that only a limited circle of three individuals are allowed to visit Schumacher, and that his communication is largely non-verbal.
The Schumacher family, particularly Corinna, has been very protective over Michael’s privacy throughout the past decade. Briatore’s reflections come alongside the broader recognition of Schumacher as one of the sport’s all-time greats, holding a record of 91 grand prix wins, 155 podium finishes, and 68 pole positions.
When discussing the greatest drivers in history, Briatore avoided direct comparisons, acknowledging Schumacher alongside legends like Ayrton Senna and Fernando Alonso, but he regarded Max Verstappen as the current top driver. Briatore, who now leads the Alpine F1 team, expressed a desire to have more drivers of Verstappen’s calibre.
Overall, Briatore’s insights spotlight Schumacher’s ongoing struggle and the deep bond maintained by his family, while the motorsport world continues to celebrate his impressive legacy.