Ex-Ferrari boss visits Michael Schumacher, provides health update

Todt, who oversaw five of Schumacher’s drivers championships at Ferrari, is among just a handful of people who have access to the 51-year-old at his Lake Geneva home.

Schumacher’s condition has been a closely-guarded secret as his family remains determined to respect his privacy.

But Todt, 74, offered positive news after his visit. “I saw Michael last week. He is fighting,” Todt told the PA news agency.

“My God, we know he had a terrible and unfortunate skiing accident which has caused him a lot of problems. But he has an amazing wife next to him, he has his kids, his nurses, and we can only wish him the best and to wish the family the best, too.”

“All I can do is to be close to them until I am able to do something, and then I will do it,” he added.

Todt also spent time with Schumacher in July and left hoping “the world will be able to see him again”.

“That is what he and his family are working towards,” Todt said at the time.

A leading neurosurgeon claimed earlier this year the German was “very altered” after suffering a severe brain injury.

He reportedly underwent stem cell therapy in Paris in 2019 and continues to be privately treated at his home.

Schumacher is closing in on being able to watch his son, Mick, follow in his footsteps in Formula One.

Mick Schumacher will drive a Ferrari at the Tuscany Grand Prix this weekend as the glamour outfit celebrates its 1000th race.

Mick will drive the F2004, the car which his father drove to his seventh world title, in a “fitting tribute to the Scuderia’s most successful car and its incomparable driver”.

Mick is currently racing a step below the top level in F2, but is being eyed by several teams for 2021 and beyond.

He won’t arrive in time to prevent Lewis Hamilton beating all his father’s records though.

Hamilton will move within one race win of Schumacher’s overall record of 91 with a win in Tuscany and is on track to match his tally of seven world championships in 2020.

“Lewis will beat all of Michael’s records simply because he is a very talented driver,” Todt said. “He is motivated and driving for the best team. He has the best car, the best engine so all the ingredients are there.

“We thought the records would be very difficult to beat, but a long stability of the regulations has helped them.”