It was not meant to become an annual ritual but, sadly, here we are.
In the lead-up to this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, I did what I’ve done twice before — reached out to Michael Schumacher’s management seeking an update on the medical status of the Formula One great.
The first time was in the days before the Montreal race two years ago, six months after Schumacher suffered serious head injuries in a freak accident while skiing in the French alps.
Back then, he had been placed in an induced coma to allow his brain to heal, and the hope was that he would soon emerge from that as he was before, or at least close to it.
Fans project a message reading ’45 – Schumi Stay strong! Keep fighting!’ on a wall of the Grenoble University Hospital Centre where former German Formula One driver Michael Schumacher is being treated for a severe head injury following a skiing accident on Sunday in Meribel on January 3, 2014 in Grenoble, France.
Somehow anything less seemed inconceivable for the larger-than-life German who rewrote the record books during two decades in F1, and into his 40s remained fit and active in retirement.
And yet there would be no good news, or much news of any kind, for many months to come.
By the time the Canadian Grand Prix rolled around again, all we knew was Schumacher was no longer in a coma, and was continuing his rehabilitation at his Swiss home, which had been adapted to provide specialized care around the clock.
His condition, and the nature of his rehabilitation, remained unknown.
His longtime manager, Sabine Kehm, made it clear the family appreciated the good wishes of fans, but wanted privacy and would not be making any comments beyond a statement they had already released.
Sabine Kehm, press officer of former German Formula One driver Michael Schumacher talks to the media outside the Grenoble University Hospital Centre where Schumacher is being treated for a severe head injury following a skiing accident on Sunday in Meribel on January 1, 2014 in Grenoble, France.
“Still we receive wishes for Michael to get well soon every day, and still we are stunned by the sheer amount of sympathies,” reads the statement, which remains on Schumacher’s official website.
“We can only always thank you for facing this fight together with him and us. We remain confident and hope the best for Michael. Your strength is helping us to keep supporting him.”
And now the Canadian Grand Prix is upon us again, for the third time since his accident. I duly emailed Kehm a few weeks ago, knowing full well I would not be told anything more than what is already known.
As before, her reply was prompt and polite, but, sure enough, she would not address Schumacher’s status. We had a short exchange not about his condition, but the continued public interest in it. She asked that it be kept off the record, and so it will.
The family’s wish to remain silent is to be expected and respected. They are under no obligation to reveal anything at all about their loved one, no matter how big his public profile.
Corinna Schumacher, the wife of former German Formula One driver Michael Schumacher arrives at Grenoble University Hospital Centre where her husband is being treated for a severe head injury following a skiing accident on Sunday in Meribel on January 2, 2014 in Grenoble, France.
Besides, Schumacher and his wife, Corinna, were never the type to seek the spotlight, and less so after his retirement, as Kehm noted during a recent talk to a group of media professionals in Lake Starnberg, Germany.
“In general, the media have never reported on Michael and Corinna’s private lives,” Kehm said. “When he was in Switzerland, for example, it was clear he was a private individual.
“Once, in a long discussion, Michael said to me: ‘You don’t need to call me for the next year, I’m disappearing.’
“I think it was his secret dream to be able to do that some day. That’s why now I still want to protect his wishes in that I don’t let anything get out.”
Still, it’s remarkable that the media blackout has held. It would not have been surprising for details or a photo to have been leaked to the tabloids or on social media. It is, in part, to Kehm’s credit that nothing of the sort has happened in two and a half years.
Is he able to talk? Walk? Is he mobile at all? Responsive? There is no way to know.
The flip side, of course, is that it can be frustrating for well-wishers to be kept in the dark. They want to believe that Schumacher is getting better, or at least be told the truth about his prospects.
Is he able to talk? Walk? Is he mobile at all? Responsive? There is no way to know.
F1 legend Niki Lauda, who works as an adviser to Mercedes, where Schumacher ended his racing career, recently expressed the mixed emotions of fans over the lack of information.
“The family protects him and I understand that completely,” Lauda was quoted as saying. “But it means that all of those who would like to know something do not.
“I often think of him, but unfortunately I have no contact. We all just hope, hope, hope.”
Others who seem to know more — like Luca Di Montezemolo, the former president of Ferrari, where Schumacher enjoyed his greatest successes — have made cryptic comments that do nothing but sow confusion and speculation.
In February, Di Montezemolo told reporters in Milan he was “always checking up” on Schumacher, and “I have news and unfortunately it is not good.” And then he clammed up.
Outgoing Ferrari President Luca Di Montezemolo attends a press conference at the Ferrari headquarters in Maranello, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014.
In May, Di Montezemolo told CNN “I’m very pleased to know that he is reacting,” but wouldn’t elaborate on what that meant.
As for Kehm, she made her own cryptic public statement late last month while collecting a lifetime achievement award on Schumacher’s behalf in Germany.
“I realize we would all like it if Michael himself could be here, but unfortunately that is not possible,” she was quoted as saying. “We have to accept it and learn to deal with it.
“We will continue to hope and do everything so that it will be different again.”
Meanwhile, family members are doing their best to move on with their lives. Son Mick, 17, is following his father’s lead and pursuing a racing career, in Formula 4. Daughter Gina-Maria, 19, has taken up her mother’s passion for horses and competes in riding events.
German racing driver Mick Schumacher of the Dutch team ‘Van Amersfoort Racing’ walks through the pit lane at the Motorsport Arena in Oschersleben, Germany, on April 8, 2015. The teenage son of former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher completed his first public test drive that day.
Family meant a lot to Schumacher, which makes it all the more poignant. Corinna always seemed to be on hand at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on race day. And the two were known to extend their sojourn in the Montreal area to enjoy the great outdoors in the Laurentians. It all seems such a long time ago.
So why invoke Schumacher now? Why go through the motions of asking the same questions when we know there will be no answers?
An image of former F1 world champion Michael Schumacher, from Germany, is displayed on the big screen during the second practice session at the F1 Canadian Grand Prix auto race Friday, June 6, 2014 in Montreal. Schumacher has been in a medically induced coma since December 2013, after suffering a head injury during a skiing accident.
The reason is simple. Amid all the merrymaking of Grand Prix weekend, it is all too easy to forget that one of the greatest names in F1 has suffered a tragic reversal of fortunes.
In his prime, Schumacher amassed seven F1 drivers’ titles, 91 race wins, 68 pole positions and 155 podium appearances — all of them records. Seven of his wins came at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, also a record.
Thus this gentle reminder. As the fun gets underway, let’s pause, just for a moment, and remember him.
walterb@postmedia.com
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