Updates on the health and condition of seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher have been scarce this year, but in recent reports, Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) president Jean Todt relayed that the legendary racer is still "fighting."
"I see Michael very often and Michael is still fighting. Michael is a close friend, his family is very close to me and I am very close to them as well. We must keep him fighting with the family," Todt said, according to reports in the Mirror and The Telegraph.
Todt also said Schumacher's achievements in the sport should not be forgotten and expressed pride on the German driver.
"I was very proud of what Michael achieved. Sometimes you tend to forget what he did," the 69-year-old also said.
Todt was not the first friend and colleague of Schumacher who has shown support and also spoke optimistically about his condition.
Before Todt, former Benetton and Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn, who worked with Schumacher during all seven of his championship wins, also spoke about his condition.
Brawn said last month that he keeps in touch with Schumacher's family, adding that the recovery for the racing icon is slow but they are never losing hope.
Schumacher suffered major injuries and was comatosed following a skiing incident in December of 2013 when he suffered a blow to his head on a rock.
Following the incident, his family decided to keep things private and released limited information regarding his recovery.
Once Schumacher was transferred to his home in Lausanne back in September, things remained similar, and there were no significant updates about his condition for long periods.
Schumacher's family, despite the difficult times, have remained dignified throughout and have been seen offering their full support to the ex-F1 driver's recovery.
