Formula One legend Michael Schumacher reportedly “sits at the dinner table” according to his friend, Johnny Herbert.
Schumacher’s ex-teammate revealed the major update in a recent interview but explained that he can’t be sure it’s true as he heard it “second hand”.
Schumacher hasn’t been seen since he was involved in a horrific skiing accident in 2013 – and information on his health has been scarce.
However, it now appears some light has been shed on the star’s health, following years of mystery.
Herbert gave BettingSites.co.uk the update while also sharing some more little known detail about Schumacher and his character.
“I hear bits only second hand. I hear, from those within F1, he does sit at the table for dinner but don’t know if that is true. I can only read between the lines,” Herbert said.
However, it now appears some light has been shed on the star’s health, following years of mystery.
Herbert gave BettingSites.co.uk the update while also sharing some more little known detail about Schumacher and his character.
“I hear bits only second hand. I hear, from those within F1, he does sit at the table for dinner but don’t know if that is true. I can only read between the lines,” Herbert said.
“We haven’t heard much from the family and understandably so. That has always been very much a part of Michael and the family’s way to keep everything very private, very secretive.
“That has carried on from his racing days. I don’t feel things have moved on in a way that many of us who knew him and many of his fans around the world want to see.”
Although Herbert is hopeful, he believes Schumacher is most likely “in the similar situation as he was straight after the accident”, given the lack of updates.
He said: “I suppose the family is waiting for science to come up with something that will hopefully bring back the Michael we all knew.”
The number of people who have been allowed to visit the star over the years has been strictly limited.
Herbert thinks this includes the family and “very few trusted individuals”.
He said: “I have heard Ross Brawn has gone, Jean Todt Gerhard Berger. That is sort of it as far as I believe.”
Herbert also shared some of his “lovely memories” of his time spent with Schumacher – including his fondness for booze and his “party piece”.
He said: “We all know there was the massively serious side to him totally driven by getting the best out of himself.
“But there was that end of season downtime, the relaxed moment we always had after Adelaide.
“He would enjoy the alcohol treats that were available and we all did. We could only do it once a year.”
He added: “He would go around the room and his party piece was to rip off everybody’s shirts. Trousers too. But it was mainly buttoned shirts which he would love to rip off.
“That was the fun side of him. Those are the memories most people didn’t see, but they are the lovely memories I have of him.
“He had a great sense of humour and hopefully something we will see again.”
It comes as last week it was revealed Schumacher’s daughter, Gina, will marry her fiance later this year.
The 26-year-old is set to tie the knot with 27-year-old boyfriend Iain Bethke later this year, reports German magazine Bunte and Spanish publication Ultima Hora.
