LONDON: The family of stricken seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher have assured fans the Ferrari great is being well cared for as they prepare to celebrate his 50th birthday on Thursday.
Schumacher, who retired from racing in 2012, has not been seen in public since he suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident five years ago. The German is being cared for at home in Switzerland.
“You can be sure that he is in the very best of hands and that we are doing everything humanly possible to help him,” the family said in a statement that made a rare comment about his condition.
“Please understand if we are following Michael’s wishes and keeping such a sensitive subject as health, as it has always been, in privacy,” it added.
The family said an official Michael Schumacher app will be released on Thursday to enable fans to review all his career successes.
The Keep Fighting Foundation has also created a virtual museum.
“The app is another milestone in our effort to do justice to him and you, his fans, by celebrating his accomplishments,” the family said.
“Michael can be proud of what he has achieved, and so are we ... we want to remember and celebrate his victories, his records and his jubilation.”
Schumacher won his first two titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995 before five in a row with Ferrari between 2000-2004.
He remains the sport’s most successful driver, with a record 91 Grand Prix wins.
Britain’s Lewis Hamilton, now a five-times world champion with 73 wins, has already claimed several of the German’s records and could ultimately match his title tally if he continues his current rate of success.
Michael Schumacher in ‘the best of hands’, reveals Formula One legend’s family
Michael Schumacher in ‘the best of hands’, reveals Formula One legend’s family
- Little known about the well being of the F1 legend since his skiing accident five years ago.
- Schumacher remains the sport’s most successful driver, with a record 91 Grand Prix wins and seven world titles.
Kane nets double as Bundesliga leaders Bayern beat Frankfurt
- Aleksandar Pavlovic’s low strike gave Bayern the lead and Kane added goals either side of half-time
- Bayern captain Joshua Kimmich gifted Frankfurt’s Arnaud Kalimuendo a late goal with a poor pass
MUNICH: Harry Kane scored his third straight Bundesliga brace as Bayern Munich beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 on Saturday to move nine points clear of chasers Borussia Dortmund atop the table.
Dortmund, who have won six consecutive Bundesliga matches, play at RB Leipzig in Saturday’s late game.
Aleksandar Pavlovic’s low strike gave Bayern the lead and Kane added goals either side of half-time, before giving away a penalty converted by Germany forward Jonathan Burkardt with 13 minutes remaining.
Bayern captain Joshua Kimmich gifted Frankfurt’s Arnaud Kalimuendo a late goal with a poor pass but the hosts held on.
Kane has now scored more than one goal in a match 13 times this season in all competitions.
The England captain has netted 28 goals in 23 Bundesliga appearances and 43 in total this campaign.
The only negative for Bayern was a second-half injury to wing-back Alphonso Davies.
The Canada captain, who returned after eight months out with an ACL injury in December, clutched his ankle after a tackle and pulled his jersey over his face as he was substituted.
Bayern earlier burst out of the blocks and Pavlovic broke through on 16 minutes.
The Germany midfielder latched onto a failed clearance and blasted in a low shot, which slipped through Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos’ fingers and trickled over the line.
Kane doubled Bayern’s lead four minutes later, heading in a corner from close range.
The England captain added another midway through the second half, sneaking the ball just inside the post with his left foot.
Burkardt’s penalty looked a mere consolation until Kalimuendo jumped on Kimmich’s mistake to cut Bayern’s lead to one with four minutes remaining, but the hosts kept Frankfurt at arm’s length in the final stages.
Bayer Leverkusen’s top-four hopes took a hit with a 1-0 defeat at Union Berlin, days after an impressive Champions League win at Olympiacos.
Home captain Rani Khedira overpowered former Union midfielder Robert Andrich to pounce on a loose ball and hammer home in the 28th minute.
The defeat leaves Leverkusen in sixth, three points behind fourth-placed Stuttgart.
Elsewhere, third-placed Hoffenheim dropped points for just the second time in eight matches in a 2-2 draw at Cologne.
Cologne took the lead thanks to an incredible bicycle kick from Ragnar Ache but Hoffenheim hit back either side of the break to take the lead thanks to goals from Ozan Kabak and Andrej Kramaric.
Teenage winger Said El Mala put Cologne level with an excellent solo goal on 63 minutes and the hosts held on to grab a valuable point against the in-form visitors.
Augsburg were behind twice but won 3-2 at Wolfsburg, with Elvis Rexhbecaj scoring in stoppage time to lift the visitors nine points clear of the relegation play-off place.
