More than a decade after Michael Schumacher’s devastating skiing accident, the world remains largely in the dark about his true health status. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has been shielded from the public eye ever since his fall in Méribel in December 2013 — a fall that nearly claimed his life and irreversibly changed it.
Access to Schumacher is tightly restricted by his family today, with only a handful of individuals permitted into his inner circle. While some old allies from the paddock have been granted visits, one notable name continues to keep his distance — by choice.
Flavio Briatore, one of the most important figures in Schumacher’s early career with Benneton and now the boss of Alpine, has revealed why he has never visited his former driver and long-time friend since the life-altering accident. In a candid interview with RTL, Briatore shared his heartfelt reasoning: he wants to preserve the powerful image he has of Michael, rather than confronting the fragile version he imagines now exists.
A Decade of Silence and Secrecy
Since the tragic accident on the slopes more than eleven years ago, the Schumacher family — especially his wife, Corinna — has adopted a fortress-like approach to privacy. Very few people know the reality of Michael’s condition, and even fewer have been allowed to see him in person.
Those permitted to visit are reportedly some of his closest confidants from the past: Jean Todt, the former Ferrari team principal who guided Schumacher to five of his seven world titles; Felipe Massa, his old Ferrari teammate and loyal friend; and a few select others.
However, despite his deep-rooted connection to the Schumacher legacy — having provided Michael with the machinery at Benetton that enabled him to win his first two world championships in 1994 and 1995 — the Italian magnate Flavio Briatore has not been granted access. He has not been barred. He simply chooses not to go.
“I last saw Michael at a boxing event in Germany, just months before the accident,” Briatore recounted in a recent interview.
‘That’s how I want to remember him: full of life, full of strength, full of fire. He wouldn’t want me to see him like this today.”
A Bond Forged in Glory
The partnership between Briatore and Schumacher in the 1990s helped lay the foundation for one of the most dominant careers in motorsport history. Under Briatore’s leadership at Benetton, Schumacher showcased not only his raw speed and intelligence, but also proved himself to be a future legend of the sport. Their bond was not merely transactional or professional; it was built on trust, loyalty and shared ambition.
Briatore was one of the first to recognise Schumacher’s potential, offering him a permanent drive at Benetton after a single Grand Prix appearance for Jordan in 1991. What followed was a period of rising dominance, culminating in back-to-back world titles, and the creation of a legend that would eventually see Schumacher move to Ferrari and cement his status as one of the greatest of all time.
“I owe a lot to Michael, not just professionally, but personally too,” Briatore admitted.
“He and his family were part of my journey, my success story. That’s why I hold onto those memories — they’re sacred.”
Preserving a Legend’s Image
While some have called for greater transparency regarding Schumacher’s condition, the family has remained steadfast. Corinna Schumacher has been the unyielding guardian of her husband’s privacy, overseeing everything from his medical care to the emotional well-being of their children, Mick and Gina. Her efforts have been widely praised as both heroic and heartbreaking.
For Briatore, Corinna’s strength comes as no surprise.
“She is an extraordinary woman,” he said. “Very brave. What she has done — keeping the family united and managing everything — is admirable. I respect her enormously.”
Perhaps it is out of this same respect that Briatore chooses not to ask for a visit. Unlike others who might seek closure or an emotional reunion, the Italian businessman says he prefers to preserve the memory he has of Michael as the dynamic, invincible champion he was.
“There’s a reason I don’t go,” Briatore reiterated.
“It’s not fear. It’s loyalty. Michael deserves to be remembered as the titan he was, not reduced to whispers about what he might be like now. That’s not how he lived, and it’s not how I want to remember him.”
Between Pain and Reverence
This decision puts Briatore in an unusual and perhaps controversial position. Some might argue that true friendship demands presence, even in the hardest of moments. However, for Briatore, the best way to honour their friendship is to remain true to the Michael who inspired millions: a man who drove with unmatched precision; who refused to be beaten; and who embodied everything Flavio admired in a racing driver and a human being.
It’s a stance that isn’t universally agreed upon, but it has certainly stirred significant emotional responses. Fans, commentators and former drivers have long speculated about Schumacher’s health. Every scrap of information from those who have visited him is pored over endlessly. Jean Todt’s carefully worded statements about watching races with Michael offer the most detail, though even these are vague by design.
However, Briatore offers no updates or hints, only respect for the privacy that the Schumacher family has insisted upon, and a personal decision rooted in reverence and affection.
Choosing Memory Over Reality
It is a bitter truth that time and tragedy can reshape even the strongest bonds. For Briatore, though, the bond has not weakened — it has solidified. He continues to hold Schumacher close, just not in the physical sense. His refusal to visit is not a rejection, but a personal vow to protect the memory of Michael that he believes the family would want to preserve.
Flavio Briatore’s story is not about absence. It is about presence: of mind, of loyalty and of memory. In a world that often demands confrontation with uncomfortable realities, he has chosen a different kind of truth: One preserved in the golden haze of podiums, champagne sprays and a young German driver who once ruled the world.
Perhaps that’s the version of Michael Schumacher that the world needs to hold onto for a little while longer.
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