MICHAEL Schumacher, one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, suffered a horrific brain injury while skiing in 2013 and has not been seen in public since.
The seven-time world champion's condition remains shrouded in mystery – but here is what we know about the racing legend:
What happened to Michael Schumacher?
Schumacher suffered the horrific ski crash while with his son Mick, who was 14 at the time, on the slopes above Méribel in the French Alps on December 29, 2013.
He fell and hit his head on a rock while crossing an off-piste area – suffering a serious head injury despite wearing a ski helmet.
Doctors said he would most likely have died had he not been wearing the safety gear, and the world champ was airlifted to Grenoble Hospital.
Schumacher immediately under went two surgeries.
He was put into a medically induced coma after suffering what was described as a "traumatic brain injury".
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.
Since then information on his treatment and his condition has been patchy despite the intense interest from fans and the press.
His ski accident came just over a year after he retired from F1 in 2012.
He had mounted a brief comeback for three seasons with the new Mercedes team after initially hanging up his helmet in 2006.
The German joined his old team boss Ross Brawn and eventual world champ teammate Nico Rosberg from 2010 to 2012 after Mercedes took over world championship winning Brawn GP outfit at the end of 2009.
The 91-time Grand Prix winner didn't enjoy much success in his three season comeback – scoring just one podium, but showed flashes of his former brilliance.
But despite not excelling on track, Schumacher is credited with helping to lay the groundwork for the team which has dominated the sport ever since with Lewis Hamilton.
How is Michael Schumacher doing now?
Information about Schumacher's ongoing health and condition remains closely guarded by his family and manager.
But some small pieces of information have been made public over the past seven years since his crash.
December 2013 – After his crash just, Schumacher is rushed to Grenoble Hospital where he undergoes two surgeries and is placed into a coma.
Professor Jean-Francois Payen describes his condition as "extremely serious" and says the F1 champ underwent a brain scan.
"He is in a critical condition and his condition is said to be extremely serious. He is in intensive care," he said.
April 2014 – Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm tells the press that the racer is showing "moments of consciousness" as he emerged from his coma.
She added he was making "progress" – but noted Schumacher was facing a "long difficult fight" on the road to recovery.
Kehm also insisted the family did not intend to give a running commentary on his condition.
June 2014 – Schumacher is reported to have regained consciousness fully and is transferred to the University Hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland.
September 2014 – Schumacher leaves the Swiss hospital and returns to his family home in Gland on the shores of Lake Geneva to continue his recovery.
His manager Kehm again insists that he has made "progress" but a "long and difficult road" remains ahead for the F1 star.
November 2014 – Former racing driver Philippe Streiff, a friend of Schumacher, claims the seven-time champion cannot speak, is paralysed, and is using a wheelchair.
"He is getting better but everything is relative. It’s very difficult," the former F1 driver tells French radio.
May 2015 – Kehm delivers a video message in the first official update on his condition for months as part of a launch event for a watch that Schumacher helped design.
"We are happy to say still he does improvement and I say this always considering the severeness of the injury he had," she said.
She added: "But of course it will take a very long time for everybody involved to fight, and we are happy to take this fight."
February 2016 – Cryptic comments by Schumacher's former Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo spark further speculation about the driver's health.
"I have news and unfortunately it is not good," he told reporters, adding
"Life is strange. He was a fantastic driver and only had one accident with Ferrari in 1999."
Schumacher's team decline to comment on his remarks.
September 2016 – Schumacher's lawyer Felix Damm tells a
German court that his client "cannot walk" as part of a lawsuit against magazine Die Bunte.
"Michael cannot even stand with the help of his special therapists. I cannot make any other comments about Michael's health situation," he said.
Die Bunte had claimed Schumacher was able to take steps and raise an arm months previously, which was rebutted by Kehm.
August 2018 – French magazine Paris March reported that "close relatives" told them the F1 champ remains in a wheelchair.
It claimed that Schumacher cries when he is rolled to look at the panoramic landscapes around his home.
Previous reports had also claimed the racer cried when he heard his children's voices, or saw his wife Corinna.
July 2019 – F1 boss Jean Todt offers one of the most detailed health updates in years which speaking to Radio Monte-Carlo.
He reveals he visits Schumacher and the duo have even watched F1 races together on television.
The former Ferrari boss insists that he is making "good progress" – but adds he has to be "careful" with his statements.
February 2019 – Schumacher is reported to have spent the winter at his family's luxury £26million Majorca villa with round-the-clock carers.
Neighbours told Bunte they saw the German racing legend arrive by dark blue helicopter at Port d’Andratx on the Spanish island.
The family purchased the property in 2018 – and it reportedly has two swimming pools, a large manicured garden, helipad and stunning sea views.
September 2019 – Le Parisien reports Schumacher has been admitted to the Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou in Paris to undergo stem cell treatment.
It is claimed he was under the care of pioneering surgeon Philippe Menasché.
Pictures emerge allegedly showing a private ambulance which had brought Schumacher to the hospital, and medical staff were quoted as saying he was "conscious".
June 2020 – Schumacher's son Mick releases an open letter about his father as he looked destined to follow him into F1 as he impressed while racing in F2.
While not giving any updates on his health, Mick's wrote: "He is always my father in the first place."
He added: "I don't take the lessons he passed on to me as a matter of course. One of these lessons is to remain constant, never to be too euphoric or too depressed."
June 2020 – Schumacher is reported to have had further stem cell treatments delayed due to the Covid pandemic.
It is also claimed the F1 driver was suffering muscle atrophy and osteoporosis, a bone wasting disease, from being confined to bed for six years.
Dr Nicola Acciari said: "The goal is to regenerate Michael’s nervous system."
November 2020 – F1 boss Todt again speaks out on Schumacher and says he visits him regularly, during which the two watch TV together.
"His fight continues, along with his family and doctors,” Todt told De Telegraaf newspaper.
However, he declines to comment when asked if Schumacher is aware of his son's success – with the younger racer winning the 2020 F2 title and earning a seat in F1 with Haas.
April 2021 – Michael's wife Corrina reportedly puts their Lake Geneva home up for sale for £5million.
Bodyguards and domestic workers were staying at the home until recently with some horses having grazed the pastures only a few months ago.
The couple had bought the "Sur le Moulin" estate in 2002 when Michael was about to win his fifth F1 world title in 2002 for £3million.
What has Michael Schumacher's family said?
Schumacher's family – his wife Corinna and their children Mick & Gina-Maria – have fiercely defended their privacy amid the intense interest over his health.
In November 2017, Gina-Maria posted an inspirational message urging his fans to keep their hope alive.
She wrote on Instagram: "There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved #keepfighting."
On August 9, 2018, Mick shared memories of his dad after snapping up his first victory in European Formula 3 at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium – his dad’s favourite track.
Speaking about his victory with Mobil 1 The Grid, the young racer said the track brought him many happy memories as it was often labelled “the living room of my dad”.
In 2018 a letter that wife Corinna sent to a German musician was revealed describing her husband as a "fighter".
Corinna said: "I would like to sincerely thank you for your message and nice gift that will help us through this difficult time.
“It is good to receive so many kind wishes and other well-intentioned words – which is a great support for our family.
"We all know Michael is a fighter and will not give up."
It was written as a reply to Hamburg bandleader Sascha Herchenbach who had sent the family a recording of a new song named Born To Fight.
He had composed the track in the months after the tragic accident
Mr Herchenbach, 38, revealed the contents of the letter in an interview with German magazine Bunte in November 2018.
Mick also faced further questions about his dad as he rose up the motorsport pyramid, winning the F2 title in 2020 and debuting in F1 in 2021.
Speaking before his first race with Haas in Bahrain, Mick told ESPN: "I had the best teacher and I'm happy to have made it all the way now. I'm happy to be here."
Who is Michael Schumacher's wife Corinna?
Michael married Corinna in August 1995 in Germany – after he won his first world title in 1994, and he was on the road to his second that season..
A keen horsewoman, Corinna won the European Championship in western style horse riding in 2010 and she is also an avid dog lover and animal rights activist.
Corinna and Michael owned horse ranches in both Switzerland and Texas.
She has not said much on his condition, and following his accident sold the family's jet and holiday home in Norway.
In 2018 a letter, she sent to a German musician was revealed describing her husband as a "fighter".
Corinna said: "I would like to sincerely thank you for your message and nice gift that will help us through this difficult time.
“It is good to receive so many kind wishes and other well-intentioned words – which is a great support for our family.
"We all know Michael is a fighter and will not give up."
Who are Michael Schumacher's children?
Michael and Corrina have two children – daughter Gina-Maria, 24, and son Mick, 22.
Both have followed in their parents footsteps, with Gina-Maria being an accomplished horse risder and Mick making his way into F1.
Gina-Maria has previously admitted that she "preferred the horses" to the cars, and in 2017 took a gold medal in the FEI World Reining Championships in Switzerland.
She is in a relationship with Iain Bethke, a show jumper who regularly cheers on his girlfriend during competitions.
Mick meanwhile has enjoyed a quick rise through the the ranks of motorsport – winning the European F3 title in 2013, the F2 championship in 2020, and graduating to F1 in 2021.
Taking on the number 47 and the initials MSC, Mick now drives for the Haas F1 team – replacing veteran racer Kevin Magnussen – and finished 16th in his first race.
He remains under the watchful eye of his dad's old team Ferrari and is part of their young driver feeder system, the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has suggested that Mick could be ready to drive for the Italian squad as soon as 2023.
He started out in in go-karts under the name "Mick Betsch" as the family wanted to avoid the attention his famous name may have as he took his first tentative steps int he world of motorsport.
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