Michael Schumacher's former team-mate offered to 'wake him up' following accident but his wife declined

The former team-mate of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher has claimed he once offered to help assist in his recovery - but the request was turned down by the ex-Ferrari driver's wife.

Schumacher won seven F1 Drivers' Championships during his long career, two of which came with Benneton and five consecutive crowns with Ferrari during the 2000s.

The German retired from F1 at the end of 2006, but returned in 2010 for three years with Mercedes before permanently hanging his up racing helmet at the end of the 2012 campaign, with his place filled by Lewis Hamilton.

Schumacher's record of seven F1 crowns was equalled by Hamilton in 2020, while the Briton has also surpassed the 91 race wins that the German achieved.

Schumacher has not been seen publicly since 2013 following a skiing accident towards the end of that year in the French Alps.

He fell and hit his head on a rock, while wearing a ski helmet, and was placed in a medically induced coma for the initial part of his recovery.

Having been at hospitals in Grenoble and Lausanne, he has been at his home ever since 2014 to continue his rehabilitation.

His condition and recovery are an extremely closely guarded secret and only a select number of individuals are permitted to see Schumacher in person.

Michael Schumacher. (Image: Getty)

Schumacher's wife Corinna was once approached by one of her husband's former team mates, Ricardo Patrese, about speaking to him in a bid to aid his recovery.

Patrese raced alongside Schumacher in the 1993 season for Benetton and become close friends with him as a result, finishing fifth and fourth respectively in the Drivers' Championship and the team claiming third in the Constructors' Championship.

The Italian revealed that he asked Corinna if seeing Schumacher after his accident and speaking to him in the aftermath might aid his recovery.

Corinna politely declined the offer at that time saying it was not the right moment, and Patrese revealed a follow-up invitation to do so did not materialise.

Speaking to Listofsweepstakecasinos.com, Patrese said: "Then he had the accident. That is a very sad moment.

"You know that sometimes if they hear, some boys wake up, that they recognise a voice.

"I asked Corinna if they wanted me to go there and try to help if I could. Well, if I could, I would have but they said no, thank you. It’s not the moment. It’s not the moment. But that moment has never come."