Michael Schumacher's early friend Richard Hopkins has spoken in strong but candid tones about the Formula 1 legend's condition, openly saying that "I don't think we'll see Michael again."
Since a serious skiing accident in December 2013, when Schumacher suffered serious head injuries and was placed in a medically induced coma, he has completely withdrawn from public life and remains under close supervision at his home near Lake Geneva, where his wife Corinna and a select team of medical professionals care for him, while any information about his condition is strictly guarded.
Hopkins, a former Red Bull operations director and early McLaren member, said he "hasn't heard anything recently" and that "as far as I know, he has a personal doctor from Finland."
He adds that he feels embarrassed to talk about his health because "the family wants complete privacy for a reason."

According to him, only a very limited group of people have access to Schumacher, including Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Gerhard Berger, and his belief is that "not even Rossi, even if you asked him as his best friend, would reveal anything."
He admits that even if he knew more, "the family would be disappointed if I shared it."
Hopkins recalls their meeting in the early 1990s, when Schumacher was racing with Benetton and he was working as a mechanic at McLaren, describing how they became close and often shared simple moments like coffee breaks.
He says Michael had "all the qualities of a world champion, both good and not so good", but that away from the track he was a completely different man, "a great father and husband".
Meanwhile, the family remains completely determined not to reveal details about his condition and the public has not seen the champion with 7 world titles and 155 podiums for more than a decade, keeping the mystery surrounding him more closed than ever.