Riccardo Patrese: “Michael Schumacher today does not know he is a seven-time Formula 1 world champion”
Former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese spoke about Michael Schumacher’s condition during an interview: “He lives in his own world, I am sure he does not know that he is a seven-time world champion.”
Riccardo Patrese is now 71 years old. The former Italian driver competed in Formula 1 from 1977 to 1993, taking part in 256 Grands Prix, a record that remained unbeaten for fifteen years, and winning six races. During his long and distinguished career, Riccardo Patrese also had the opportunity to get to know a very young Michael Schumacher. In 1993, he became the German’s second driver at Benetton and, in recent days, as significant news has emerged regarding Schumacher’s physical condition, Riccardo Patrese has shared further details.
In an interview given to hochgepokert.com, Riccardo Patrese addressed the subject directly: “I hope that Michael is improving every day because he is a dear friend of mine,” he said. “And I am so sorry that he is in this situation. I knew that there had been positive developments six years ago because there was a time when everyone thought he might die. But he survived the accident.”
During the conversation, Riccardo Patrese added further insight: “He lives in his own world, but he recognises the people around him, familiar faces,” he concluded. “I am sure that he does not know that he is a seven-time world champion.”
For many years, and understandably so, Schumacher’s family asked for privacy and respect regarding Michael’s condition, maintaining silence. In recent weeks, however, reports have emerged suggesting that Schumacher is not confined to bed, that he continues to follow Formula 1, and that he is able to move around his home with the help of a wheelchair and the constant assistance of doctors, nurses and therapists.
Riccardo Patrese continued to explain his understanding of the situation: “I heard from a friend that he was improving more and more, but I haven’t met him since the accident,” he added. “It is only said that he can sit, observe, look around and establish eye contact.” At this point, Riccardo Patrese went on to describe what happened immediately after Schumacher’s fall on the snow in Méribel, where the German suffered a serious brain injury.
“After the accident, I said to Corinna: ‘Should I come and maybe try to talk to him to see if he wakes up and things like that?’ And she replied: ‘Don’t worry, Riccardo.’ I understood that they didn’t want anyone around him, except for a few trusted people like Jean Todt and also Luca Badoer, because he had been a very close friend of Michael since his Ferrari test days.”
Riccardo Patrese then recalled that day in December 2013 in particular: “I found out about the accident, but no one knew how serious it was,” he explained. “So I sent him a message: ‘Are you okay, Michael?’ Unfortunately, I never received a reply. I immediately understood that it was something serious, and at that moment everything changed. That was the last contact I had with him.”
Riccardo Patrese also remembered another moment: “I offered to help them, to see if it would be useful for me to go and visit him, but they preferred to stay on their own,” he explained. “I saw Corinna at Goodwood in 2019, when they celebrated Michael’s career. It was a great event, but I didn’t ask them how Michael was.”
The former Italian Formula 1 driver concluded: “I think that Michael is naturally living with great support from his family,” he said. “We can only hope that he improves, and I am very happy to know that Michael is better, but as far as I know, his situation has not changed for several years.”
Riccardo Patrese’s moving reflections offer a rare glimpse into the quiet reality of Michael Schumacher’s recovery, highlighting the deep bond and respect shared among the legends of the 1990s grid. While the sporting world continues to hold onto the memory of the “Red Baron’s” seven world titles, Patrese’s words remind us that for the Schumacher family, the focus remains on the small, human victories—eye contact, facial recognition, and the comfort of being surrounded by those he loves. His account serves as a poignant tribute to a friend whose legacy is untouchable, even if the man himself remains in a world far removed from the headlines and the high-speed drama of modern Formula 1.
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