Michael Schumacher will ‘slowly & surely improve’ says close pal in rare health update nearly 8 years on from ski crash

MICHAEL Schumacher will "slowly and surely improve", his close friend Jean Todt revealed in a rare health update.

The F1 legend suffered a head injury after a skiing accident in the French Alps on December 29, 2013.

He fell and hit his head on a rock while crossing an off-piste area in Meribel and was injured despite wearing a ski helmet.

Schumacher was taken to hospital and put into a medically induced coma after suffering what was described as a "traumatic brain injury".

Doctors said that he would have died had he not been wearing the safety gear.

The former Ferrari and Mercedes driver was brought out of the coma by June and was released to go rehabilitate at his home in Switzerland.

There have been few updates on his health over the years, but his close pal and FIA boss Todt has now talked about his hope that Schumacher's condition will improve.

He survived - but with consequences

Jean Todt

He told German newspaper Bild that the legend's wife Corinna cooperated with doctors as she wanted him to survive after the incident.

Mr Todt said: “I've spent a lot of time with Corinna since Michael had his serious skiing accident on December 29, 2013. She is a great woman and runs the family.

“She hadn't expected that. It happened suddenly and she had no choice. But she does it very well. I trust her, she trusts me.

“Thanks to the work of his doctors and the cooperation of Corinna, who wanted him to survive, he survived - but with consequences.”

In a 2019 update, Schumacher was reported to be making "good progress" but also "struggling to communicate".

A documentary about the life and career of the F1 icon is set to be published on Netflix this month.

The trailer opens with Schumacher himself, saying: "100 per cent perfection, I couldn't live with anything lower."

In the clip, Corinna describes her husband as "somebody special" as she talks movingly about their relationship.

His children also appear in the documentary, which will land on the streaming platform on September 15.

His eldest daughter Gina-Maria, 24, says in the trailer: "Well, he is my dad, and I’m glad that he is."

His son Mick, who is forging his own F1 career and is currently in his debut season with Haas, says: "When I look at him, I think, 'I want to be like that'."

Schumacher's father Rolf adds: "Even as a child, he knew what he wanted."