Michael Schumacher’s family has been accused of telling “lies” to the star’s former manager Willi Weber over the F1 champion’s condition.
Schumacher’s health has been a topic of constant speculation since suffering a near-fatal brain injury when skiing in the French resort of Meribel in December 2013.
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His wife and family have been fiercely protective of the icon’s privacy as he recovers at home in Switzerland.
While some information has made it out from his wife Corinna and Schumacher’s close friend Jean Todt, the star’s former manager has hit out at a lack of access to the German F1 great.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Weber claimed he has been prevented from visiting Schumacher since his harrowing skiing accident.
“I tried hundreds of times to contact Corinna and she didn’t answer,” the 80-year-old said.
“I called Jean Todt to ask him if I should go to the hospital and he told me to wait – it’s too early.
“I called the next day and no one answered. I didn’t expect behaviour like that and I’m still angry about it. They kept me out, telling me it’s too early, well now it’s too late. It’s been nine years. Maybe they should just say it the way it is.
“I could understand the situation initially as I always did everything I could for Michael to protect his private life. But since then we have only heard lies from them.”
The son of Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari and vice-chairman of the famous car manufacturer, Piero Ferrari, gave an insight into Schumacher’s predicament at recent awards ceremony.
“I’m sorry we talk about him today as if he were dead,” he said. “He’s not dead, he’s there but he can’t communicate.
“I had the pleasure of having Schumacher as a guest at home and drinking a bottle of red wine together,” he said.
“He really enjoyed having these moments of intimacy and tranquillity.”
Speaking on Netflix documentary SCHUMACHER, Schumacher’s wife said her prime motive is to protect her husband and the couple’s son Mick and daughter Gina during what has been a difficult period for the family.
“Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find,” she said.
“We’re together. We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond.
“And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.
“We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives.
“‘Private is private’, as he always said. It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible.
“Michael always protected us and now we are protecting Michael.”
“We’re together. We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond.
“And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.
“We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives.
“‘Private is private’, as he always said. It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible.
“Michael always protected us and now we are protecting Michael.”
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