JANUARY 27, 2014

Todt still at Schumacher's bedside

FIA president and former Ferrari boss Jean Todt has returned to the Grenoble hospital bedside of his friend Michael Schumacher.

The seven time world champion has been in a coma for almost a full month, raising doubts he will ever recover from his late December skiing accident.

Blick newspaper reports that journalists, particularly those in Germany, have been warned away from that sort of speculation with a letter from lawyers representing the great German's family.

In the meantime, Bild am Sonntag newspaper quoted manager Sabine Kehm as saying Schumacher's wife Corinna only wants the 45-year-old closest friends to be around him.

One of the closest of all is 67-year-old Frenchman Todt, who today heads F1's governing body.

"Michael and Jean formed a deep and respectful friendship during their time at Ferrari," triple world champion Niki lauda said.

"That he is at his side now is very important," he added.

(GMM)