Michael Schumacher now: Who is Richard Hopkins and what has he said about the F1 legend?

In December 2013, Michael Schumacher was put in an induced coma after being involved in a ski accident. The Formula One Legend was skiing with his then 14-year old son Mick and a group of friends in the resort of Méribel when the accident occurred.

Michael Schumacher hit his head in the ski accident and was airlifted to the University Hospital in Grenoble. A statement by Michael Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm was released at the time.

The statement read: “Michael fell on his head when he was on a private skiing trip in the French Alps. He was taken to hospital and is receiving professional medical attention. We ask for understanding that we cannot give out continuous information about his health.”

Michael Schumacher’s family also released a statement which read: “His family would like to explicitly thank all his treating doctors, nurses and therapists in Grenoble as well as the first aiders at the place of the accident, who did an excellent job in those first months.

The statement also read: “The family also wishes to thank all the people who have sent Michael all the many good wishes to Michael. We are sure it helped him.” The statement continued: “For the future we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye.”

Michael Schumacher has not been seen in public since his accident and has been cared for at his home on Lake Geneva. Richard Hopkins, former Red Bull head of operations, told SPORTbible that "I haven't heard anything recently. I understand he has a Finnish doctor, a personal doctor. I don't think we'll see Michael again.

Richard Hopkins also said: “ I'm slightly uncomfortable talking about his condition because of how secretive, for the right reasons, the family wants to keep it. So I can make a remark, have an opinion, but I'm not in that inner circle. I'm not Jean Todt, I'm not Ross Brawn, I'm not Gerhard Berger, who visit Michael. I'm a long way from that."

Richard Hopkins also revealed that "I can't say I'm best friends with Jean Todt, or Ross, or Gerhard. I think even if you were Ross Brawn's best friend, and you asked how well Michael was, and even if you plied Ross with a lot of good red wine, I don't think he would open up and share.

"I think there is that respect with anybody who goes to visit Michael, not to share anything. That's the way the family wants it to be. I think that's fair and respectful towards the family. Even if I did know, the family would be disappointed if I shared anyway."