Former seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher has been out of the public eye ever since his skiing accident in 2013. But recently, it was reported that he made his first public appearance in almost 11 years to grace his presence at his daughter Gina-Marie's wedding on 29 September.
The legendary German driver retired from Formula One at the end of the 2012 season after his failed three-year comeback stint with Mercedes which resulted in him acquiring just one podium. The 55-year-old has not been seen in public since his skiing accident that fractured his skull in the final days of 2013 and has been recovering from his injuries ever since.
However, reportedly, Michael was present at his daughter's wedding last month to her longtime boyfriend in an intimate ceremony at their family home in Spain. His appearance at the event was kept a secret from the attendees and the guests were strictly instructed to leave their phones at the gate. Although there has been no official confirmation regarding Schumacher's appearance at the event provided by the family and the inner circle.
The German driver's family has been restrictive when it comes to sharing information regarding his rehabilitation. Former FIA President Jean Todt, who is close to the family, had told Le Equipe' last year about the former Ferrari driver's health:
"Michael is here, so I don't miss him. He is simply not the Michael he used to be. He is different, and is wonderfully guided by his wife and children who protect him. His life is different now, and I have the privilege of sharing moments with him. That's all there is to say."
When Michael Schumacher's wife broke her silence on the German driver's health
Michael Schumacher's wife Corinna gave a rare insight in the Netflix documentary 'Schumacher' about the former Mercedes driver's condition. She said in the documentary:
"It's not just me who misses him. It's the children, the family, his father, everyone around him. Everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here - different, but here. He still shows me how strong he is every day."
"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."
She further spoke about her decision to keep Michael's health a secret and claimed that it was important to her that "he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us, and now we are protecting Michael."
Michael Schumacher is regarded as arguably the greatest driver in F1 history and his several records have stood the test of time and remain unbroken.