Jean Todt: I see Michael, I love Michael

Although little is officially known about the seven times Formula 1 World Champion's condition, he is reportedly wheelchair bound and taken care of by a team of specialists, his family is militant in protecting Schumi's privacy since the debilitating skiing accident he suffered in December 2013 while on Holiday in the Alps.

Todt, who was Ferrari team chief during Schumacher's remarkable era at the turn of this century, is clearly one of the few that make part of the inner circle that still has contact with the 49-year-old German.

The Frenchman revealed in an interview with The Times that he sees Schumacher “a minimum of twice a month” but declined to give details, “I simply say it is private. I see Michael, I love Michael. I see his family. I wish the situation would be different.”

During the interview, Todt was asked about a framed photo in his presidential office depicting Schumacher standing next to his wife Michelle Yeoh, and his son, Nicolas.

He explained, “That’s my three darlings. Michael, Michelle and my son. I think this one was when I won the French award called Légion d’Honneur [in 2011]. They came to the celebration. They all love each other, which is something that is also special to me.”

While most remember the five glorious seasons - 2000 to 2004 - in which under Todt's leadership Ferrari dominated the sport and added a hefty chapter to the Ferrari legend, but few recall the four years of toil it took to get the team to the top and winning titles as they did when they found the sweet spot.

Although 1999 was close, finally the title came at the 2000 Japanese Grand Prix when Schumacher powered the #3 Ferrari F1-2000 to victory and with it end a 21-year championship drought for Maranello. No surprise that Todt cherishes this as his fondest memory during those record-breaking glory years.

Again referring to a photo in his office, he points to a picture of himself lifting Schumacher on the Suzuka podium after clinching their first title, “When people ask me what is my best memory, it’s this one. That’s Suzuka in 2000. Michael is world champion [for Ferrari] after 21 years."

"I remember [after winning the title] saying to Michael: On a professional level, things will be different for us. In fact, they weren’t different because we had so much passion for success that, when we got that, we wanted to win the next one," recalled Todt.