Archbishop: Schumi senses loving people are around him

Gänswein, a German Archbishop, has spoken of his emotional visit to Schumacher's home in 2016, where he spent time at the seven times F1 World Champion's bedside.

In 2013 Schumacher suffered a critical brain injury when he fell while skiing with his then 14-year-old son, Mick, in the French Alps. He was airlifted to hospital and spent the next six months in a coma. It is believed that now he is receiving 24/7 care by a medical team of 15 at his luxury home in Switzerland.

Gänswein told Bild that Schumacher's appearance had hardly changed, "I sat opposite him, took hold of both hands and looked at him. His face is, as we all know, the typical Michael Schumacher face - it has become only a little fuller.

"He senses that loving people are around him, caring for him and, thank God, keeping the overly curious public away. I include Michael Schumacher and his family in my prayers," added Gänswein.

This latest revelation about Schumi's condition is a rare breach of the blanket secrecy that protects his privacy vociferously but inevitably has led to much speculation and fomented curiosity from anyone who is aware of the sad tale of the sport's most successful driver.