Schumacher's condition unchanged, says former Benetton teammate Patrese

Michael Schumacher's health condition remains unchanged, according to Riccardo Patrese, the Italian former Formula 1 driver who was Schumacher's teammate at Benetton in 1993.

Patrese made the statement in an interview with the portal Hochgepokert, released Friday, in response to recent speculation about Schumacher's current state. Rumors had circulated suggesting the German driver was improving and was no longer bedridden, with reports indicating he might be able to sit up.

"My impression is that the situation is the same," Patrese said, though he expressed hope for Schumacher's recovery. "I heard from a friend that he was improving more and more. But I have never met him after the accident. I have never been there. You only hear talk that he..."

Schumacher, now 57, suffered a skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013. He fell into a coma following the incident and has remained largely out of public view since then, with his family keeping details of his health condition private.

In a separate account, Patrese provided additional details about Schumacher's current state, revealing that the driver "no longer knows he is a seven-time world champion." This statement underscores the neurological impact Schumacher has sustained from the accident. However, Patrese also noted that Schumacher "is in his own world, but recognizes people around him, familiar faces."

Patrese, now 71, spoke from a position of personal closeness and long-standing friendship with Schumacher. The two drivers competed together during the 1993 Formula 1 season at Benetton, one of several teams where Schumacher raced during his career, which also included stints at Ferrari and Mercedes.

The family has maintained strict confidentiality regarding Schumacher's medical condition for over a decade, releasing minimal public information about his recovery or daily life since the accident.