Formula 1 Champ Schumacher Still in Critical Condition

Michael Schumacher, former F1 champion and considered one of the most successful racers in the history of the sport, is still in critical condition in a French hospital, after sustaining head injuries on the ski slopes of the Alps earlier this week.

The German driver hit his head on a rock while skiing with his teenage son on Sunday, and fell into a coma shortly afterwards.  A team of experienced brain surgeons operated on Schumacher on Monday night and he remains in critical condition at this time.

Anesthetist Jean-Francois Payen said in a statement about 44 year old Schumacher’s condition on Monday morning that doctors were “still fighting for his life” and that they were working “hour by hour”.

“We judge him to be in a very serious situation,” said the doctor. “We cannot predict the future for Michael Schumacher.”

Payen noted that Schumacher would not have survived if he had not been wearing a skiing helmet.

“It’s too early to say what is going to happen and to have a prognosis,” he said. “Taking into consideration the very violent shock, his helmet did protect him to a certain extent, of course.”

“Somebody who would have this kind of accident without a helmet, certainly, he would not have got to here.”

Michael Schumacher is a seven time Formula 1 champion and holds multiple industry records, including winning the most races in a single season, clocking 13 in 2004.  Schumacher retired from F1 racing in 2006 but remained on to serve as an adviser for Ferrari.  In 2009, he tried to make a return as a cover for an injured Felipe Massa, but had to back down after he was found to be suffering from a neck injury.  In 2010, he made a comeback with Mercedes and drove with the team until November 2012, when he completed his last Grand Prix. Schumacher retired for the second time shortly afterwards.