The former manager of Michael Schumacher has blasted the Formula 1 legend's family for "lying" about the aftermath of his near-fatal skiing accident in 2013.
The former Ferrari star completely withdrew from the public eye after the incident, which saw him placed into a medically-induced coma for six months.
The seven-time World Champion was enjoying a holiday in the French Alps when he fell and hit his head on a rock while skiing with his son Mick - who is currently making waves in the world of F1.
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The 53-year-old was airlifted to a hospital in Grenoble, and after undergoing two surgeries, he was placed in a medically induced coma for six months to help reduce the swelling of his brain.
Michael was eventually moved to another hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland, after coming out of his coma in 2014.
Just one year prior, Schumacher completed his final year in F1 with Mercedes, but the bulk of his sporting success came with Ferrari and Benetton as he scooped up a record-equalling seven world titles. Only Lewis Hamilton can rival the German in terms of accolades and achievements, with the Brit overtaking his Grand Prix win tally last season.
Will Weber, who first signed Schumacher to his Formula Three team in the 1980s, has lashed out at his former client's family over a lack of access and 'lies' following his skiing accident, Express reports.
"It was a huge pain for me," Weber told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I tried hundreds of times to contact [his wife] Corinna and she didn’t answer. I called Jean Todt to ask him if I should go to the hospital and he told me to wait – it’s too early.
"I called the next day and no one answered. I didn’t expect behaviour like that and I’m still angry about it. They kept me out, telling me it’s too early, well now it’s too late. It’s been nine years. Maybe they should just say it the way it is.
"I could understand the situation initially as I always did everything I could for Michael to protect his private life. But since then we have only heard lies from them. Years after the accident, I said to myself to just look out for the family as I couldn’t change things. He was like a son to me. Even today it hurts me to talk about it."
Schumacher's son, Mick, is currently in F1 with Haas and is touted to follow in his father's footsteps by eventually linking up with Ferrari.The youngster picked up his first career points at Silverstone earlier this month.
He shed light on the nature of his father-son relationship in hard-hitting Netflix documentary 'Schumacher' last year.
"I think dad and me, we would understand each other in a different way now. Simply because we speak a similar language – the language of motorsport," he said.
"We would have had much more to talk about and that is where my head is most of the time, thinking that would be so cool. That would be it. I would give up everything just for that. Yes.
"Since the accident, of course, these experiences, these moments that I believe many people have with their parents are no longer present, or to a lesser extent. In my view, that is a little unfair."
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