Michael Schumacher is still fighting, says racing chief
Formula One racing legend Michael Schumacher is still "fighting" for his life, International Automobile Federation president Jean Todt says.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the World Touring Car Championship race in Marrakech, Todt said: "I see him very often and he's still fighting. He's fighting and we can only hope and pray that it will improve over the future.
"It has been a tragedy this accident. A tragedy for Michael, a tragedy for his family.
"Michael is in very good hands with fantastic dedicated doctors in the hospital in Grenoble. Obviously, I'm very close to him, to the family."
But according to AFP, the FIA president refused to answer when asked if he was optimistic about the 45-year-old's future.
Two weeks ago, Schumacher's manager said he is showing signs he may still recover from his skiing accident - including "moments of consciousness and awakening".
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, his manager Sabine Kehm said: "Michael is making progress on his way. He shows moments of consciousness and awakening.
"We are on his side during his long and difficult fight, together with the team of the hospital in Grenoble, and we keep remaining confident."
Former F1 doctor Gary Hartstein explained to the paper what "moments of consciousness" could mean.
He said: "If Michael smiles when a member of his entourage talks to him - reproducibly and consistently on at least a few occasions. Or following people with his eyes. Or trying to communicate, or obeying simple commands. Any of this constitutes objective signs of contact between the 'outside' and the 'inside'. This then would be a minimally conscious state. And that is about the best news we could possibly get right now."
The news came after reports of Schumacher's wife Corinna building a £10 million medical suite at their family home for when her husband leaves hospital.
He was put in a medically induced coma on 29 December following an accident where he hit his head on a rock while skiing at French resort Meribel.
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