Fellow Formula One racers have reacted with shock and concern over news of Michael Schumacher’s ski accident, which left him in a coma in a hospital in Grenoble, France.

Doctors said on Sunday that the German, who won a record seven Formula One championships in a career spanning nearly 20 years, needed emergency surgery for cranial trauma sustained when his head hit a rock while skiing in the resort of Meribel.

“Michael!! I am praying for you my brother!! I hope you have a quick recovery !! God bless you Michael,” his former Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa said on Instagram.

Massa posted a photo of Schumacher and himself. Schumacher was to have taken Massa’s place at Ferrari after the Brazilian suffered head injuries in a crash at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, but Schumacher was denied the chance because of injuries he suffered in a motorcycle accident.

“All our thoughts to Schumi and his family! Hope you will recover soon,” Lotus driver Romain Grosjean tweeted, and German driver Adrian Sutil posted on the same social network: “I hope Michael Schumacher will get well soon! All my best to him and his family.”

Citing BFMTV, CNN said that former F1 driver Olivier Panis of France visited the hospital in Grenoble but was not able to see Schumacher.

“I will come back tomorrow,” he said. “Yes I am worried.”

Another ex-driver and former Schumacher team-mate, Martin Brundle, urged the champion to fight in hospital just like on the track where he earned a record 91 race wins.

“Come on Michael, give us one of those race stints at pure qualifying pace to win through, like you used to. You can do it,” Brundle tweeted.

Other German athletes also sent get-well wishes.

Bayern Munich and Germany defender Jerome Boateng tweeted: “Get well soon, Michael Schumacher.” His sentiments were echoed by Lukas Podolski, the Arsenal winger.

Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki also took to Twitter, saying: “Uhh, just heard about the terrible accident of Michael Schumacher … Get well soon!!”