Eddie Jordan has detailed the devastating impact the last 10 years has had on Corinna Schumacher following her husband's ski accident in 2013.
The 54-year-old has been married to seven-time F1 world champion Michael since 1995 and has been by his side every step of the way in his recovery from his tragic ski accident back in 2013 - which caused a traumatic brain injury and saw him fall into a coma.
Corinna has ensured the daily care her legendary F1 husband receives is up to scratch, and has overseen the effort to ensure his wish for privacy is respected.
Jordan, a good friend of Schumacher, commented on the huge toll the last decade has taken on Corinna, with the F1 icon describing her as his "guardian angel".
"This was the most horrific situation for Mick and Corinna," the Irishman told The Sun. "It's been nearly ten years now and Corinna has not been able to go to a party, to lunch or this or that, she's like a prisoner because everyone would want to talk to her about Michael when she doesn't need reminding of it every minute."
Corinna has imposed a rule that only permits family to see the former Ferrari star, and one of the few people outside the family who has been allowed to see him is former F1 chief and ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt. Corinna has since admitted that Schumacher is "different" following his accident.
She was accepting the State Prize of North-Rhine-Westphalia on his behalf last year when she made those comments. "I miss Michael every day. But it's not just me who misses him. It's the children, the family, his father, everyone around him. I mean, everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here. Different, but he's here and that gives us strength, I find," she said previously.
"We try to carry on a family as Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives. 'Private is private', as he always said. It is very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us, and now we are protecting Michael."
Jordan, who gave Schumacher his debut at Jordan in 1991 - has often spoken of his "love" for his pal Michael - including earlier this year as he described the 91-time F1 race winner as "there but not there". He went on to reveal how he was prevented from seeing the motorsport icon by his beloved wife in the early days following the accident, given the volume of people who wanted to visit.
"Privacy is such a vital aspect to sport, business and your personal life,” Jordan told betting firm OLGB. "[Corinna] has set out some rules, I know her very well and a long time before Michael Schumacher. She's a lovely girl and I knew her when she married Michael so there is a long history of good relations."
He added: "I made an effort to go see Michael in the early days and Corinna refused, and rightfully so because too many people wanted to go see him. I was not able to go see Michael and they said 'We love you Eddie and we've been involved with you for a very long time, but we do need privacy and safeguard of Michael'."
