Michael Schumacher is a 'case without hope', according to close friend and F1 journalist Roger Benoit.
The German hasn't been seen in public for a decade after a devastating skiing accident in the French Alps back in 2013.
Schumacher suffered life-threatening injuries after hitting his head on a rock following a fall.
He then spent weeks in a medically induced coma and also spent several months in hospital before being finally allowed home.
Michael Schumacher is one of the greatest drivers in the history of F1
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Schumacher has been taken out of the public eye ever since, with his family keen to ensure he has privacy as he continues to recover.
Some of the driver's close friends and family members have also been kept in the dark to ensure there are no leaks to the media.
And close friend Benoit, who would often smoke cigars with the 54-year-old, has claimed he is now a 'case without hope'.
"No," he told Blick when asked if he was able to provide an update on Schumacher and his condition.
"There is only one answer to this question and that is what his son Mick gave in one of his rare interviews in 2022: ‘I would give anything to talk to dad’.
"This sentence says everything about how his father has been doing for over 3500 days. A case without hope.”
Benoit was referring to comments made by Schumacher's son, Mick.
Last year, the 24-year-old said: “I think dad and me, we would understand each other in a different way now.
"We would have had much more to talk about and that is where my head is most of the time, thinking that would be so cool.
"I would give up everything just for that.
"These moments that I believe many people have with their parents are no longer present, or to a lesser extent."
Earlier this year, family friend Eddie Jordan said that Schumacher's wife Corinna refused to let him visit the F1 icon.
He described it as 'the most horrific situation' while also saying Corinna had been 'like a prisoner' as a result.
“This was the most horrific situation for [Schumacher’s son] Mick and Corinna,” Jordan said.
“It’s been nearly 10 years now and Corinna has not been able to go to a party, to lunch or this or that, she’s like a prisoner because everyone would want to talk to her about Michael when she doesn’t need reminding of it every minute.”
Jordan added: "I know her very well and a long time before Michael Schumacher.
“She’s a lovely girl and I knew her when she married Michael so there is a long history of good relations.
“I made an effort to go see Michael in the early days and Corinna refused, and rightfully so because too many people wanted to go see him.”
In last year's Netflix documentary about Schumacher, Corinna was tearful and said he was 'different' but 'here'.
“Michael is here,” the 54-year-old said. “Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find.
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“We’re together. 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. We all will.
"We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives.”
