Former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese has disclosed that he offered to visit Michael Schumacher to aid his recovery but was turned away by the seven-time champion's wife Corinna.
The 71-year-old Italian, who partnered Schumacher at Benetton in 1993, believed hearing a familiar voice might help his former team-mate.
"You know that sometimes if they hear [a familiar voice], some boys wake up, that they recognise a voice," Patrese told Listofsweepstakescasinos.com.
"I asked [Schumacher's wife] Corinna if they wanted me to go there and try to help if I could.
Corinna Schumacher turned Riccardo Patrese away when he tried to wake Michael Schumacher up after his skiing accident
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"Well, if I could, I would have, but they said, 'No, thank you. It's not the moment. It's not the moment.' But that moment has never come."
Patrese and Schumacher developed a strong bond during their time as team-mates, united by their shared love of football.
The pair regularly competed together in Formula 1 charity football matches.
"I know nothing, but from the first moment of course I was in very good connection with Michael, because of the national team of drivers for soccer for charity," Patrese explained.
"He was coming and playing soccer with this team that we were doing. We are still doing it for charity."
When Patrese stepped back from his involvement, he passed the captain's armband to Schumacher.
"He was the captain of the team. When I left, I gave to him the armband of the captain and he was really very happy to do it."
Patrese is not alone in being kept at arm's length from the Schumacher family.
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Michael Schumacher and his wife Corinna boast an impressive property portfolioGETTYThe late Eddie Jordan, who gave Schumacher his Formula 1 debut in 1991, revealed in 2022 that he too had been "politely turned away" by Corinna when attempting to arrange a visit.
Even Schumacher's brother Ralf acknowledged in 2023 that he had lost regular contact with Michael's family following the accident.
He told German magazine Bunte that whilst he remains available if needed, communication has significantly diminished over the years.
The family has maintained an exceptionally tight circle around the German racing legend since his devastating skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013.
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Michael Schumacher continues to recover from his tragic skiing accident back in December 2013GETTYRecent reports paint a stark picture of Schumacher's current condition. German journalist Felix Gorner reported earlier this year that the 56-year-old is "completely dependent" on his caregivers.
Flavio Briatore, Schumacher's former Benetton boss, has described him as "just lying in a bed", whilst Elisabetta Gregoraci claimed Schumacher cannot speak and communicates only with his eyes.
In a rare 2021 statement, Corinna said: "Michael is here. Different, but he's here, and that gives us strength, I find.
"We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he's comfortable."
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