Schumacher faces 'long fight' one year after skiing accident

The former F1 champion is still recovering from his accident

Michael Schumacher faces a "long fight" on the road to full recovery, his manager has said, one year after the F1 champion suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident.

"It's going to be a long time," Sabine Kehm was quoted as saying.

Her comments came after a former racing driver said Schumacher was beginning to communicate with his eyes.

The claim, made by Phillipe Streiff, was dismissed by Ms Kehm and Schumacher's doctor.

Speaking to Le Parisien newspaper, Mr Streiff said he understood that Schumacher was now recognising his close family and communicating with them using his eyes.

The retired French F1 driver said he had obtained his information after being in contact with Schumacher's wife and the surgeon who is treating him.

But Professor Gerard Saillant, the surgeon, denied giving any information to Mr Streiff.

"For a year, I have never had any contact, verbal, written or physical with Phillipe Streiff," he said via a spokesman, according to the AFP news agency.

Meanwhile Sabine Kehm said Mr Streiff was not a close friend of Schumacher and had not been in contact with either her or Mr Saillant.

The Schumachers live on the shores of Lake Geneva

Schumacher, a seven-time F1 champion, suffered his head injury while skiing near the French resort of Meribel on 29 December last year.

After spending nine months being treated in French and Swiss hospitals he was transferred in September to his family home on the shores of Lake Geneva.

The German driver, who won a record 91 F1 races, had retired from the sport in 2012 after an attempted comeback ended in disappointment.

Michael Schumacher

• Born: 3 January 1969

• First GP win: Belgium 1992

• Last GP win: China 2006

• Races started: 303

• Wins: 91 (155 podium finishes)

• Championships: 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)