F1 Thread

[Buzzo]

Breaking news on the BBC

Michael Schumacher, seven-time Formula 1 world champion, is in "critical condition" after a ski accident, says the French hospital at which he is being treated.

The 44-year-old German "was suffering a serious brain trauma with coma on his arrival" the hospital in the south-east city of Grenoble said in a statement.

Schumacher's management confirmed his critical condition, reports said.

He was skiing off-piste with his son in the Alps when the accident occurred.

Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he fell and hit his head against a rock, Meribel resort director Christophe Gernignon-Lecomte said earlier.

[G]

Hope he pulls through.

[Camble]

F1 2013

I am preying he pulls through, he's a hero of mine and is one of the biggest reasons I'm massively into karting.

[Gibbo]

How can you go from not serious too a ******* coma man.

Really hope he makes a full recovery.

[G]

Lots of mis information earlier in the day, full story coming out now

[paulg]

Remember that Redgrave actress a few years ago? Hit her head skiing, was sent home fine, then dropped dead a few days later. Concussion / head injuries are never straight forward things.

[Buzzo]

Update from the BBC. He's got to stand a fighting chance given his physical condition. Not sure if anyone saw the doc on (Ex) Snowboarder Kevin Pearce, but recovery from severe head trauma is a lengthy process. I suspect his life will be in the balance for a few weeks.

Good luck Michael.

Michael Schumacher, the seven-time Formula 1 champion, is "fighting for his life" after a ski accident in the French Alps, his doctors say.

The driver remains in a critical condition in hospital in Grenoble with head injuries suffered on Sunday morning at the resort of Meribel.

"We cannot tell you what the outcome will be yet," the team treating him told a news conference on Monday morning.

His family are at his bedside.

Schumacher underwent surgery on arrival at the University Hospital in Grenoble.

He remains in a coma and the medical team treating him said that they are working "hour by hour".

"All we can do is wait," they added.

Helmet
Prof Jean-Francois Payen told reporters that if Schumacher had not been wearing a protective helmet "he wouldn't be here now".

"We had to operate urgently to release some pressure in his head," the anaesthetist said.

Neurosurgeon Stephan Chabardes said that a post-operative scan had shown "diffuse haemorrhagic lesions" on both sides of Schumacher's brain.

The doctors refused to comment on his prognosis.

The 44-year-old German was skiing off-piste with his teenage son when he fell and hit his head on a rock.

Following the accident, Schumacher was evacuated to the hospital in the nearby town of Moutiers.

Prof Chabardes said the driver was in an "agitated condition" on arrival in Moutiers and his neurological condition "deteriorated rapidly".

He was taken from Moutiers to the larger facility in Grenoble.

Analysis

Catherine McMahon
Consultant neurosurgeon
After an operation to reduce swelling of the brain, we would place a monitor inside the brain to measure the pressure.

The induced coma Michael Schumacher is in is to try to stabilise the pressure within the brain, to try to prevent secondary brain damage from occurring.

It's likely he will remain in an induced coma for several days, and really the outcome is very, very unclear at this stage.

The agitation suggests that his conscious level when he first came in was deteriorating.

Schumacher is being kept in a coma at a low temperature to facilitate his recovery, Prof Payen said.

The medical team said that the driver's relative youth and the fact that he was operated on without delay count in his favour.

'Good visibility'
Tim Wall, who produces a snow conditions report for La Tania, a neighbouring village to Meribel, told the BBC that visibility was good in the area on Sunday.

"There was about 20cm of snow late on Saturday and overnight.

"On Sunday morning the snow was very light and the skies were clear - perfect skiing conditions."

But despite this and a similar snowfall earlier in the week, off-piste snow cover was patchy, he said.

"There have been quite high winds, so there are areas with good snow cover, but where it's exposed there's not much snow."

'Fighting spirit'

Schumacher, who turns 45 on 3 January, retired from F1 for a second time in 2012.

He won seven world championships and secured 91 race victories during his 19-year career.

The driver won two titles with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995, before switching to Ferrari in 1996 and going on to win five straight titles from 2000.

He retired in 2006, and was seriously hurt in a motorcycling accident in Spain three years later, during which he suffered neck and spine injuries.

Schumacher managed to recover and made a comeback in F1 with Mercedes in 2010.

After three seasons which yielded just one podium finish, he quit the sport at the end of last year.

The Mercedes F1 team said their thoughts and prayers were with Schumacher and his family.

The team tweeted that the driver had "amazing fighting spirit".

British retired F1 driver David Coulthard said that "if anyone knows how to muster inner strength and determination then there's no doubt in my mind Michael Schumacher is the man to do it".

He told BBC News that Schumacher was "risk averse" as an F1 competitor, like other drivers - contrary to the popular image of the sport.

"It's all about finding the limits of your car, and staying within the limits," he said.

A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and her government were, like millions of Germans, "extremely shocked".

"We hope, with Michael Schumacher and with his family, that he can overcome and recover from his injuries," the spokesman said.

[Fredo]

FFS why would he ski off piste.

[Daniel 7]

Adrenaline junkie - he had to replace the F1 buzz somehow.

[Lee]

Adrenaline junkie - he had to replace the F1 buzz somehow.

Love skiing but it can be so dangerous.

Hopefully we'll have some positive news soon.

[Buzzo]

I haven't skied for a few years (since the children), but I love it.

I am a pretty decent skier, can get down most black runs, but I must say I've never worn a helmet. When you think of this, and Natasha Richardson from a few years ago it makes you think....

[Buzzo]

Schumacher's condition improves

Former motor racing champion Michael Schumacher's condition has improved slightly after an operation to relieve pressure on his brain, his doctors have said.

A new scan taken overnight showed signs that he was "better than yesterday", but he was still "not out of danger", doctors said.

The seven-time Formula 1 champion suffered head injuries on Sunday in a skiing accident in the French Alps.

He was put in a medically-induced coma.

An initial scan on Monday night showed "an improved situation" and indicated a window of opportunity for a second operation, doctors said.

The family took the "difficult decision" to give consent for the procedure, and doctors operated on Schumacher for about two hours.

A subsequent scan revealed a "slight improvement".

"We can't say he is out of danger but... we have gained a bit of time,'' said Dr Jean-Francois Payen. "The coming hours are crucial."

"But all the family is very much aware that his state is still sensitive and anything can happen."

'Extremely shocked'
The driver had been skiing off-piste with his teenage son when he fell and hit his head on a rock.

He was first evacuated to a hospital in the nearby town of Moutiers.

Prof Chabardes said the driver was in an "agitated condition" on arrival in Moutiers and his neurological condition "deteriorated rapidly".

He was taken from Moutiers to the larger facility in Grenoble.

Messages of support have come from around the world.

Michael Schumacher (file image)
Michael Schumacher won seven world championships during his career
A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and her government were, like millions of Germans, "extremely shocked".

"We hope, with Michael Schumacher and with his family, that he can overcome and recover from his injuries," the spokesman said.

Former Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa, who recovered from life-threatening head injuries he suffered at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, wrote on Instagram: "I am praying for you my brother! I hope you have a quick recovery! God bless you, Michael."

On Monday some fans had gathered outside the hospital in Grenoble.

Nuravil Raimbekov, a student from Kyrgyzstan who is studying nearby, described Schumacher as an inspiration.

"I'm worried, of course... but I still hope, and I will pray for him," he said.

Schumacher is held in a great deal of affection in the area, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Grenoble. He is seen as a kind and generous man who has done a lot for charity.

The former champion, who turns 45 on 3 January, retired from F1 for a second time in 2012.

He won seven world championships and secured 91 race victories during his 19-year career.

The driver won two titles with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995, before switching to Ferrari in 1996 and going on to win five straight titles from 2000.

He retired in 2006, and was seriously hurt in a motorcycling accident in Spain three years later, during which he suffered neck and spine injuries.

Schumacher managed to recover and made a comeback in F1 with Mercedes in 2010.

After three seasons which yielded just one podium finish, he quit the sport at the end of last year.

[Camble]

I haven't skied for a few years (since the children), but I love it.

I am a pretty decent skier, can get down most black runs, but I must say I've never worn a helmet. When you think of this, and Natasha Richardson from a few years ago it makes you think....

I'm taking the Missus on a skiing holiday at the end of the month, neither of us have ever skied.

I'm going to make sure we take a couple of private lessons before we go to get the basics, but obviously we'll still be very inexperienced.

My Missus, being the vain cow that she is, is insisting that she won't be wearing a helmet. She best had wear one now.

[Lee]

I haven't skied for a few years (since the children), but I love it.

I am a pretty decent skier, can get down most black runs, but I must say I've never worn a helmet. When you think of this, and Natasha Richardson from a few years ago it makes you think....

Poor Richardson seemed fine at the time too didn't she?!

Never worn a helmet either but next time I go I certainly will do.

I'm taking the Missus on a skiing holiday at the end of the month, neither of us have ever skied.

I'm going to make sure we take a couple of private lessons before we go to get the basics, but obviously we'll still be very inexperienced.

My Missus, being the vain cow that she is, is insisting that she won't be wearing a helmet. She best had wear one now.

You'll both absolutely love it.

Probably best to get a couple of lessons when you get there rather than before (are you taking lessons here on dry slopes?)

Fashion is the last thing she'll be thinking of when she's up in the mountains.

Where are you going, if you don't mind me asking?

[G]

A "journalist" dressed up as a priest so they could sneak into his room at the hospital, vermin