Schumi's family remain hopeful

Grenoble - Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is still in the process of waking up from an induced coma following a skiing accident more than six weeks ago, his manager said Thursday.

The Bild newspaper reported Wednesday — without citing any sources — that Schumacher had developed pneumonia, but Sabine Kehm's emailed statement Thursday made no mention of that.

"As often in such situations no day is like the next," Kehm said, adding that Schumacher's family does not wish to disclose medical details in order to protect Schumacher's privacy.

"We will continue to communicate any decisive new information on Michael's health state.

"We are aware that the wake-up phase can take a long time.

"The family continues to strongly believe in Michael's recovery. ... The important thing is not the speed of the recovery but that Michael's healing process progresses in a continuous and controlled way," Kehm said.

Schumacher's doctors started waking up the German driver one month after his crash in the French resort of Meribel.

The 45-year-old Schumacher suffered serious head injuries Dec. 29 when he fell and hit the right side of his head on a rock.

The German has been treated in the Grenoble University Hospital since then. His condition has stabilized following surgery after initially being described as critical.

Experts have said it will likely be months before Schumacher's prognosis becomes clear — and that lasting brain damage is a possibility.

Schumacher earned universal acclaim for his uncommon and sometimes ruthless driving talent, which led to a record 91 race wins.

He retired from Formula One in 2012 after garnering an unmatched seven world titles.

His accident happened on a family vacation in the Alps as Schumacher was skiing with his 14-year-old son.