Flavio Briatore on Schumacher: I want to remember him smiling!

Flavio Briatore on Schumacher: I want to remember him smiling!

In a rare and moving insight into Michael Schumacher's health, former team boss Flavio Briatore recently said he would rather remember the former Formula 1 world champion with a smile than see him in a state of care. Schumacher, who has not appeared in public since his serious skiing accident in December 2013, lives in seclusion on Lake Geneva, surrounded by his family and a medical care team. Access to it is limited to a narrow circle of around 20 people. Briatore emphasizes that he has not visited Schumacher, but keeps in regular contact with his wife Corinna. RTL reporter Felix Görner describes this situation as “very sad”, confirming that Schumacher is in need of care.

In April 2025, Schumacher, assisted by Corinna, signed a helmet for the charity “Race Against Dementia”. Briatore, who led Schumacher to his first two world championship titles at Benetton, points out that the driver from Kerpen is still one of the greatest in Formula 1 and also mentions Ayrton Senna and Fernando Alonso. Nevertheless, he admits that Max Verstappen is currently the clear number one.

A deep look into the past

Formula 1 has made extensive efforts in recent decades to increase driver safety. The tragic accident in 2014 of Jules Bianchi, who died after nine months in a coma following a collision at Suzuka, has led to new safety measures being discussed and implemented. Before his accident, the last fatal incident in Formula 1 was that of Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna in 1994.

Since Bianchi and Senna, numerous safety standards have been introduced. In around 2015, new guidelines for the design of the vehicle noses and a virtual safety car system for the races were established. Safety measures such as crash tests have been mandatory during test drives since 2012, and in 2014 the vehicle nose was lowered from 500 mm to 185 mm to minimize the risk of injury.

Schumacher's legacy

Despite the challenges and sad circumstances in which Schumacher lives, his legacy remains undisputed. With seven world championship titles, 71 fastest laps and 155 podiums, he continues to be considered a legend in motorsport. Briatore highlights this by saying: “The great ones were always Schumacher, Senna and Alonso.” As the debate over the greatest driver of all time continues, it is clear that Michael Schumacher's influence on Formula 1 and the world of racing continues to this day.

Michael Schumacher's current situation remains a source of sadness for many fans and the entire motorsport community, but also of hope for positive developments in the future.