A decade has passed since the fateful skiing accident that left Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher with serious brain injuries, and the veil of secrecy around his current condition will remain firmly in place, as confirmed by the family’s media lawyer, Felix Damm.
Since the 2013 accident in the French Alps, information about Schumacher’s health has been scarce to nil, with the family choosing to keep details private. This stance is supported and enforced by Damm, who has been handling media matters for Schumacher since 2008. “It was always about protecting privacy,” he asserts.
MASSA SAYS IT’S NOT HIS PLACE TO SHARE
Felipe Massa, a former Ferrari teammate and close friend of Schumacher’s, recently acknowledged that he is privy to information about Schumacher’s condition. However, he respects the family’s wishes, stating, “Yes, but I’m not the one to say something. It is the family who must do that.”
DILEMMA OF DISCLOSURE: THE LAWYER’S PERSPECTIVE
Damm provides insight into the family’s deliberations, revealing that they have considered the possibility of releasing an official health update. However, the complexity of the situation and the potential for constant media scrutiny dissuaded them from taking this path. “We would have to deal with the argument of voluntary self-disclosure,” he explains, emphasizing the challenges of managing public and media expectations.
“Of course, we discussed a lot about how this is possible. So we also considered whether a final report about Michael’s health could be the right way to do it.
“But that wouldn’t have been the end of it and there would have had to be constantly updated reports. The media would be asking again and again ‘How does it look like now?’, one, two, three months or years after the report.”
FANS IN THE DARK: A DECADE OF QUESTIONS
Acknowledging the millions of fans worldwide who are eager for updates, Damm believes that the majority understand and respect the family’s decision to seek privacy. “They respect the fact that the accident set in motion a process in which private shelter is necessary and will now continue to be observed,” he concludes, highlighting the delicate balance between public interest and private grief. “I believe that the vast majority of the fans can deal with it well,” he told German-language Legal Tribune Online.
