Remembering Michael: Flavio Briatore shares heartfelt Tribute to Schumacher

It’s been over ten years since a skiing accident changed Michael Schumacher’s world forever. Now, one of his oldest friends, Flavio Briatore, has opened up with rare, deeply personal words about the Formula 1 legend he knew so well.

Briatore, the man who guided Schumacher’s incredible rise with Benetton back in the early 90s, spoke about how he chooses to hold onto the memory of his friend – not dwelling on the present, but cherishing the fierce champion he was.

“If I close my eyes,” Briatore shared softly in an interview with Corriere della Sera, “I see him smiling after a win. That’s how I prefer to remember him… not just lying in a bed.”

A Decade of Quiet Strength
That fateful day in December 2013, while skiing in the French Alps, caused devastating brain injuries. Since then, the seven-time world champion has lived privately at his Swiss home, surrounded by constant care.

Now 56, Michael’s condition remains intensely private, fiercely guarded by his wife Corinna and their closest circle. Glimpses into his life are rare and precious.

The Heartbreaking Reality
Briatore’s words echo others who know the family. His ex-wife, Elisabetta Gregoraci, mentioned earlier that Michael can no longer speak, communicating instead through his eyes. Visits are strictly limited to only a handful of trusted people.

“Michael doesn’t speak,” she revealed. “Only three people can see him, and I know who they are.”

This matches what German F1 journalist Felix Gorner reported – that Schumacher relies completely on caregivers and can no longer express himself with words.

A Loyal Friend: Jean Todt’s Visits
Jean Todt, who stood beside Michael as Ferrari boss during his most glorious years, remains one of the very few granted regular access. Their bond transcends their racing history.

“I see him regularly, with affection, him and his family,” Todt told La Repubblica. He’s described watching races together with Michael – a quiet companionship, no words needed. Speaking to L’Equipe in 2023, Todt acknowledged, “He is simply not the Michael he used to be. He is different, and is wonderfully guided by his wife and children, who protect him.”

Life, Love, and Quiet Moments
Despite the immense challenges, Michael’s family ensures he remains part of their world. Earlier this year, with Corinna’s help, he even signed a helmet for Sir Jackie Stewart’s Race Against Dementia charity, joining every other living F1 champion.

“It is wonderful that Michael could sign the helmet for this worthy cause,” Stewart said gratefully. “His wife helped him, and it completed the set.”

In the 2021 Netflix documentary Schumacher, Corinna offered a rare, powerful insight into their life together:

“Michael is here. Different, but he’s here. And that gives us strength. We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better… and no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.”

The Image That Endures
For Briatore, and for countless fans and colleagues around the globe, the defining image of Michael Schumacher isn’t shaped by his current struggle. It’s the unbreakable champion, standing tall on the podium, basking in hard-earned victory.

“I prefer to remember him like that,” Briatore said, his voice likely thick with emotion, “smiling after a win.”

It’s a poignant reminder: Legends like Michael live on. Not just in the trophies and records they leave behind, but in the vivid memories and enduring love held by those whose lives they touched.