Michael Schumacher: Sebastian Vettel hoping for 'miracle'

Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel is still coming to terms with the serious brain injury sustained by German compatriot Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher, a seven-time F1 world champion, has been in an induced coma in a French hospital since hitting his head on a rock while skiing last month.

"We still don't know what shape he will be in when he wakes up," said Vettel.

"I pray and hope he will come back and the miracle will happen and he will be the person he was before."

Vettel, a friend of Schumacher's, has sympathy for the stricken 45-year-old's relatives.

"It's horrible, especially for his family and close friends, not knowing what is going to happen," said the 26-year-old, who has won the past four world championships.

"I have known him for a long time. I have been looking up to him all my life. I got to know him a little bit more when he did his comeback. He became a friend. We spoke to each other regularly. "

Vettel also expressed regret about the media coverage in the days immediately following the incident.

"For the family and hospital, it was pretty bad," said Vettel, who added he had not yet visited Schumacher.

"There were so many people in front of the hospital, so much media, so much pressure from the media. I'm sure that didn't really help.

"You can understand, everybody wants to know the latest update.

"It's about Michael only and his family. Things have calmed down a little bit, at least from a media point of view."