Schumacher 'being woken from coma'
Reports out of Europe this morning claim Michael Schumacher is gradually being woken from his coma and is responding positively to medical treatment.
France's L'Equipe reports that doctors began slowly waking the Formula One legend earlier this week.
Schumacher suffered severe head injuries when he hit his head on a rock skiing in the French Alps on December 29. He has been in an induced coma in Grenoble Hospital in France ever since and remains in a stable condition.
Many fear the German seven-time world champion could remain in a "persistent vegetative state" even if he successfully wakes from the coma.
Yesterday Schumacher's former team Mercedes and the current Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel sent messages of support.
Mercedes included a message for Schumacher on the side of its new Formula One car, while four-time defending champion Vettel said he was praying for his friend and countryman.
Drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg unveiled Mercedes' silver-and-turquoise W05 before the first session of the preseason began at the Jerez track. The upper part of its chassis just behind the driver's seat carries the Twitter hashtag #KeepFightingMichael.
Rosberg was Schumacher's teammate for three seasons before the seven-time world champion retired from F1 for a second time at the end of 2012.
"We want to show as a team that we are thinking of him and hoping for the best every day," Rosberg said.
Vettel said he had known Schumacher a long time and had been "looking up to him" his whole life.
"It's horrible, especially for his family and close friends not knowing what's going to happen. In that regard, as I said, I'm still shocked as everyone and obviously I pray and hope a miracle will happen and he will come back and be the person he has always been before."
Schumacher's wife Corinna and children Gina Marie, 16, and Mick, 14, have been at the 45-year-old's bedside since the accident.
The Ferrari team poses with a banner reading "Go Michael". Picture: REUTERS/Ferrari Press Office
