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Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher is 'waking up very slowly' following the horrific brain injuries caused by a skiing accident, it emerged today.

News of the 45-year-old's medical condition was passed on by his son, the kart-racing driver, Mick.

French F1 commentator Jean-Louis Moncet told Europe 1 radio station: "I saw his son and he told me that Schumi is waking up very slowly; very slowly.

"Although things are going at a slow pace, he has a lot of time, I would say he has his whole life in front of him to get back on track."

Moncet, 69, also cast new light on the manner in which Schumacher was injured when he fell and struck a rock whilst skiing with Mick in the French Alps on December 29.

(Image: ABACA/Press Association Images)

"The problem for Michael was not the hit, but the mounting of the Go-Pro camera that he had on his helmet that injured his brain," said Moncet.

Moncet confirmed that Schumacher was still "fighting" at his Swiss mansion, where he is being cared for in a purpose-built medical suite.

The seven times world champion returned to his home with his wife and children two months ago after being discharged from a rehabilitation clinic in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Schumacher spent time in the rehab clinic after coming out of his medically-induced coma following the accident, which left him with catastrophic brain injuries.

Former Ferrari boss Jean Todt visited Schumacher last month, saying: 'What's important is that he lives and that his family is with him. We really believe that things will get better. He needs time and to be left alone.

'In the past weeks and months, he has made progress in relation to the severity of his injury,' said Todt, now president of the International Automobile Federation.

'But a long and hard road is in front of him. Hopefully things will improve. His family is close to him. He needs time and peace.'

Schumacher is being cared for by a team of 15 experts at his home. It is understood he remains immobile and unable to speak.

His care is estimated to be costing his family £100,000 per month.

At the end of the year his father Rolf is moving from his home in Germany into a specially constructed residence built for him in the grounds of the £35 million Schumacher mansion at Gland, on the shores of Lake Geneva.