F1 legend Michael Schumacher has just turned 47 and as the racing champion continues to recover from the freak ski accident in the French Alps two years ago, the racing community paid tribute to one of the most important personalities in the field.
"No one should underestimate how much Michael did for the success that the [Schumacher's former team] Mercedes team now enjoys," the group's chief Ross Brawn said of the recuperating German superstar, as quoted by Express.
"He won races that we should not really have won, and in my opinion, Michael did that more often than anybody else has," he went on to say as he recalled the seven-time world champion's brilliance behind the wheel.
Other well-wishers include former racing champs Felipe Massa and Sebastian Vettel, who posted birthday greetings to Schumacher on Twitter. Indian cricketer Virat Kohl, who called Schumacher "one of [his] childhood heroes," remembered the special day and said, "Hope you are racing towards your recovery!"
A week before Schumacher's 47<sup>th birthday, the F1 racer made the headlines due to reports that claimed he can walk again and is even able to raise his arm. German publication even referred to this as a "Christmas miracle."
Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm stepped in to debunk the claims, saying "Such speculation is irresponsible, because given the seriousness of his injuries, his privacy is very important for Michael. Unfortunately they also give false hopes to many involved people."
Last month marks the second year since the accident that put him in a medically induced coma for six months until he was brought home to be surrounded by the people closest to him as he recovers.
"We are happy to say still he does improvement and I say this always considering the severeness of the injury he had. But of course it will take a very long time for everybody involved to fight, and we are happy to take this fight," Kehm went on to say.
