Michael Schumacher may not understand that he is a seven-time Formula 1 world champion, according to Riccardo Patrese, who has recently shared a health update on the 57-year-old. The former Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes driver has been out of the public eye since a tragic skiing accident in 2013 which left him in critical condition.

The Hurth-born champion has been under the care of his wife, Corinna, and a specialist team of healthcare professionals for more than a decade now, after hitting his head on a rock while skiing in the French Alps. Schumacher was placed in a medically-induced coma for months after the incident, but has since returned to his home at Lake Geneva. His condition since has been shrouded in secrecy, with his incredibly tight-knit circle working tirelessly to guard his privacy.

However, responding to the recent revelation that Schumacher is no longer bed-bound, former team-mate Patrese has shared an update on the German’s condition. Speaking to Hochge Pokert, he said: “I hope that it can be better every day for Michael because he’s a good friend of mine. And I’m so sad that he’s in this situation.

“I hope that he can improve. That’s the hope of all his fans and me as a friend even more. I knew that six years ago, some better things were happening because there was a moment when everybody thought that he could be dead. And then, okay, he survived the accident.

“Then, I had this news, via a friend, that he was improving and improving. But I never met him after the accident. I never went there, so it’s only talk that he could sit, watch and look around and make contact with his eyes.

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“After the first improvements, I think my knowledge about his health was that he was in the situation that they described this week. He’s in his own world, but he recognises people around him, familiar faces.”

However, Patrese also claimed that Schumacher may not know that he is a seven-time F1 world champion as a result of his accident. He added: “I am sure he does not know he is a seven-time world champion.

“I think from this point of view, of course, Michael is now living in the way that he is with a lot of effort from the family. I think in this kind of situation, it is a treasure for the person that they love.

“Even with the condition he is in, they like to have him and care for him and love him. He’s still with us and we can only hope that he will get better. We are really hoping, every day he is doing a little bit more, a little bit more, a little bit more. I’m very happy to hear that Michael is improving but from what I know of this situation nothing has changed for some years.”

Schumacher is the joint-most successful driver of all time in Formula 1 alongside Lewis Hamilton, lifting the title in 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Former Ferrari technical director, Ross Brawn, is understood to be one of the few people from the industry who have seen Schumacher since his accident.