Michael Schumacher’s lawyer explains why there’s no ‘final report’ on F1 icon’s condition – and even his friends are prevented from giving updates on his state, 10 years on from skiing accident

Michael Schumacher’s family lawyer has explained exactly why a report on his condition was never released – 10 years after his skiing accident.

The seven-time Formula 1 champion has disappeared completely from the public eye since his fall in Meribel, France, in 2023, which initially left him in a coma.

The German superstar emerged from that coma in 2014, but cannot communicate or walk. No further information was ever released about his condition.

And in an interview with the German LTO, Felix Damm – the representative of the family – gave the reason behind the silence from the camp.

“It was always about protecting private matters,” Damm said. ‘We have considered whether a final report on Michael’s health would be the right way to do this.

Schumacher, pictured in 2005, won a joint-record seven world titles during his storied career

‘But that wouldn’t have been the end and there would have had to be constantly updated ‘water level reports’, and it wouldn’t have been up to the family when media attention to the story stopped.

‘They could pick up such a report again and again and ask: ‘And what does it look like now?’, one, two, three months or years after the message. If we then wanted to take action against this reporting, we would have to deal with the argument of voluntary self-disclosure.’

Voluntary self-disclosure sets the precedent that a person cannot claim the right to privacy if the information being reported or asked about has been shared publicly by himself or by an agent on his behalf.

The Schumacher family has had to deal with this a number of times, with close acquaintances discussing the 54-year-old’s condition.

Jean Todt, former FIA president and close friend of Schumacher, was among those close to the family to talk about Schumacher, but Damm has explained that even this information cannot be shared with the public.

“If it is not the data subject himself, but friends or acquaintances who reveal private information, there is no ‘voluntary self-disclosure’ of privacy,” he explained.

‘The person concerned can therefore defend himself against disclosure of private circumstances, even if the information comes from someone he knows.’

Despite the lack of verified information about Schumacher, there remains a huge interest in the former Formula 1 star.

Last month, memorabilia from his successful racing career fetched a whopping £2 million at auction.

A collection of 159 pieces, including helmets, racing suits, bottles of champagne and more, realized a total of £2,081,341, more than £600,000 more than the initial estimate when it went under the hammer in RM Sotheby’s ‘Full Throttle’ auction – The Schumacher Collection’.

Schumacher, pictured next to his wife Corinna, left in 2005 and suffered a near-fatal brain injury while skiing in 2013 and has since led a very private life with his family in Switzerland

Schumacher’s wife Corrina (pictured with Michael in 2004) has sought privacy for her husband