Australia’s most successful F1 driver Sir Jack Brabham has expressed his horror in the wake of Michael Schumacher’s skiing accident in France.
Speaking exclusively to Speedcafe.com, Brabham was stunned at the news as Schumacher remains in an induced coma after smashing the right side of his head in a fall at the luxury ski resort of Meribel where he owns a chalet.
“You don’t have to go motor racing to get hurt. It’s terrible news,” Brabham told Speedcafe.com
“It must have been a nasty accident. Really bad news.
“I was really sorry to hear about it. It’s just devastating.”
Brabham, who is the oldest surviving world champion at 87, said he was urgently awaiting some positive news while acknowledging that Schumacher is receiving the very best medical care.
“He’s in the best of care over there and I’m hoping that he can pull through this.”
Brabham, world champion in 1959, 1960 and 1966, has always considered Schumacher to be the best grand prix driver in the world.
The Gold Coast-based Brabham rates Schumacher on a higher pedestal than the great Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio who bagged five F1 titles.
“He’s got a fantastic head on him, more so than Fangio,” Brabham admitted at the height of Schumacher’s dominance with Ferrari 10 years ago.
“Schumacher’s worked hard to bring the Ferrari team up. Fangio was just a driver.”
Schumacher, who claimed his initial F1 crowns with Benetton in 1994-1995, went on to lead Ferrari to titles from 2000-2004.
He turns 45 on Friday.
