- F1 legend Schumacher was involved in a horrific skiing accident in 2013.
- The seven-time world champion has not appeared publicly for more than ten years
- Fisichella raced against the iconic Ferrari star between 1996 and 2006
Former Formula One driver Giancarlo Fisichella has claimed it “would not be possible” for legendary Ferrari star Michael Schumacher to return to the paddock.
The F1 legend has not been seen in public since suffering a serious brain injury in a horrific skiing accident in 2013.
Only a select few people are allowed to see Schumacher, and his condition is kept secret.
Fisichella, who won two races and represented teams including Ferrari, Benetton, Jordan and Sauber during his career, raced against Schumacher between his debut season in 1996 and 2006, when the German retired for the first time.
The Italian, who retired in 2009 and is now 51, said Schumacher could have become one of the top managers of one of the sport’s biggest teams.
Michael Schumacher could have become main team manager, insists former racing opponent
Giancarlo Fisichella (left) raced alongside Schumacher between 1996 and 2006 and has said it is a “pity” that it is “not possible” for the German star to return to the F1 paddock.
Secrecy has shrouded Schumacher’s condition, although he is being cared for by a medical team and his wife Corinna (left) at their home in Lake Geneva.
He said: “Michael was a great driver, but I’m sure he could also be a great coach or team manager in a top team.”
“So it’s a shame it’s not possible for him in his condition, you know?”
And he added: “I think Michael was one of the best drivers in the world, it is the history of Formula One. He won the championship seven times.
“I feel really honored to have raced against him and, especially when I sometimes got on the podium and shared the podium with him.
“I’m a bit disappointed because I never raced with him as a teammate on the same team because I really respected him and I think he’s probably the best driver in the world.”
December marked ten years since Schumacher’s ski accident.
Schumacher, who was wearing a helmet, went into an induced coma and underwent several surgeries.
His family has maintained strict privacy about his condition, although he is being cared for by a medical team and his wife Corinna at their Lake Geneva home.
His brother Ralf, Fisichella’s former teammate at Jordan, stated that things “are not like before.”
Schumacher takes Fisichella to the pits after retiring from second place in the 1997 German Grand Prix.
Fisichella (right) said Schumacher was probably the “best driver in the world”
The former F1 driver admitted: ‘I miss the Michael of the old days. Life is unfair from time to time.
‘Michael was very lucky throughout his life. But then this tragic accident happened.
The 48-year-old businessman and expert added: ‘Fortunately, advanced medical science offers many opportunities. However, nothing is like before.’
Ralf, who won six F1 Grands Prix, stressed that Michael had been more than just his older brother.
He told local media: ‘Michael wasn’t just my brother. When we were kids, he was also my coach and mentor. He taught me literally everything about kart racing.’
Since Schumacher’s accident, only a few fragments of information have come to light. His former teammate Johnny Herbert stated that the German “can sit at the table.”
However, in the Netflix documentary ‘Schumacher’, which aired in 2021, his wife Corinna provided a rare update.
She revealed that he remains in rehabilitation for the injuries he suffered and stated that he is now “different, but here.”