Ross Brawn 'extremely hopeful we’ll see Michael Schumacher as we knew him at some point in the future'

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Ross Brawn, the former Formula 1 team principal, has said he is “extremely hopeful” about Michael Schumacher's recovery.

The Formula One champion fell and hit his head during a family skiing holiday in the French alps in 2013. He was airlifted to hospital, placed in a medically induced coma and continues his recovery at his home in Switzerland.

In September, his lawyer Felix Damm told a court Schumacher is still unable to stand without assistance after launching a lawsuit against a German news outlet for claiming Schumer, 47, had begun taking his first steps.

Reports about his recovery have been mixed and in February his former boss at Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, said his health was “not good”. His family has said they will not be commenting on his progress.

Speaking to The Guardian, Brawn said his quotes about Schumacher's condition “improving” had been misinterpreted, but he remained hopeful for his long-term recovery.

“I was going up to Scotland for new year and his PA called,” said Brawn. “We cancelled our plans and went to see him. It was terribly traumatic for the family – and shocking for us. Michael was such a strong character and all through his racing career he only suffered a broken leg. The irony of this happening during a quieter life was terrible.

“We do. We go see him and hope and pray that one day he will make a recovery. I was quoted as saying he’s improving and it was not what I really meant. The family are conducting his convalescence in private and I need to respect that. So I don’t want to comment on his condition beyond saying we’re extremely hopeful we’ll see Michael as we knew him at some point in the future.”