Michael Schumacher Condition Latest News Update: Champ Still Paralyzed and In Wheelchair, Says Friend

More details about Michael Schumacher's condition were recently revealed by former F1 racer Philippe Streiff. During a radio interview, he said Schumacher was in a wheelchair and remains paralyzed.

Streiff is one of Schumacher's friends and is himself a quadriplegic after being injured in 1989 in Brazil. Streiff said Schumacher was also unable to speak and was suffering from memory problems.

However, soon after Streiff spoke, Schumacher's family said they have not spoken to Streiff. Schumacher's spokesperson Sabine Kehm also said Streiff's statement was his own opinion and nothing else.

The statement from Schumacher's family is consistent with their policy not to release any news about his condition. After his accident which took place on Dec. 29 last year, Schumacher was immediately placed in an artificially induced coma at a hospital in Grenoble, France.

Last January, doctors started the procedure to bring him out of coma. By April of this year, Schumacher was already out of coma. At this time, Kehm noted that he had "moments of consciousness and awakening."

It was during this time when Streiff was seen entering the hospital in Grenoble to see Schumacher.

After being discharged from the Grenoble University Hospital Center in June, Schumacher was transferred to Lausanne Hospital in Switzerland. There he stayed for a few days before being discharged. He is now recuperating at home in a specially designed facility staffed by doctors and other caregivers round the clock.

Earlier this month, Dr. Jean-Francois Payen, who has been attending to Schumacher at the hospital in Grenoble and now at home, said he had noticed some progress in the ace driver's condition. Payen said he is cautiously optimistic about Schumacher's chances of recovery. "Like other patients with a brain injury recovery can happen within a time frame of one to three years, so you need patience," he said.