Twelve years on from the skiing accident that left Michael Schumacher with life-changing injuries, a close friend of the Formula 1 legend believes widespread assumptions about his condition are likely correct.
Richard Hopkins, who worked for rival team McLaren during Schumacher’s dominant era, has spoken about the enduring mystery surrounding the seven-time world champion’s health.
“I think our own assumptions are fairly accurate about where he’s at right now,” Hopkins told the Mirror.
The German driver suffered his injuries on December 29, 2013, and has remained entirely hidden from public view ever since.
Despite being excluded from Schumacher’s inner circle, Hopkins expressed understanding about the secrecy, suggesting the limited information released indicates “there’s maybe not a lot to say.”
Hopkins developed a friendship with Schumacher despite their professional rivalry, regularly sharing coffee breaks with the racing icon from the early 1990s when the German first emerged as a force in the sport.
Their connection continued until 2007, the year following Schumacher’s initial retirement from Ferrari.
Twelve years on from the skiing accident that left Michael Schumacher with life-changing injuries, a close friend of the Formula 1 legend believes widespread assumptions about his condition are likely correct
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Yet Hopkins finds himself among those shut out from visiting the stricken driver in the years since the accident.
“It’s difficult,” he admitted. “I think all of us, and it’s just human nature, want to know. We would love to know.”
He acknowledged that the family’s reluctance to allow visits likely stems from not wanting Schumacher seen in his current state.
Michael Schumacher sustained serious injuries while skiing in France back in 2013 | GETTY
“That obviously generates your own ideas and images, and I think we all probably have a similar idea of the state that he’s in,” Hopkins explained.
Schumacher is understood to live primarily at the family residence beside Lake Geneva, where a dedicated medical team provides round-the-clock care.
His wife Corinna has been fiercely protective of her husband’s privacy throughout the past dozen years, ensuring only a handful of trusted individuals gain access.
The precise list of permitted visitors remains unclear, though former Ferrari team principal and FIA president Jean Todt is known to have maintained contact.
Austrian ex-F1 driver Gerhard Berger and Sabine Kehm, the former journalist who now manages the Schumacher family’s affairs, are also among those granted entry.
Former manager Willi Weber has publicly criticised being kept uninformed about his one-time client’s condition, highlighting the strict boundaries the family has maintained around access to the racing icon.
Michael Schumacher won seven F1 titles during his career | GETTY
Hopkins anticipates the wall of secrecy will remain firmly in place for the foreseeable future, predicting that genuine insight into Schumacher’s post-accident life will only come after his passing.
“I’m sure the day that he’s no longer with us, we might be privy to a little bit more information,” he said.
“But all the while he’s with us, in whatever state that is, the family are respecting his privacy.”
He dismissed any prospect of a sudden revelation while the racing legend remains alive.
“I don’t think there will ever be a day while he’s alive when suddenly everything comes out. But maybe when he’s no longer with us, we’ll find out a little bit more about his life post-accident.”
Hopkins suggested the continued public interest serves a purpose, noting that persistent questions help keep Schumacher’s memory alive.
