Michael Schumacher has not been seen in public since suffering life-altering injuries in a skiing accident in France in December 2013, and a former colleague has opened up on the latest

A former friend of Michael Schumacher has expressed his desire to see the F1 legend in public once more, but only if his health permits. The seven-time world champion suffered life-changing injuries in December 2013 when he struck his head on a rock during a family skiing trip in France.

True to form throughout his celebrated racing career, Schumacher's privacy has been closely guarded by his wife, Corinna, leaving the public with little insight into his current condition. While countless fans and F1 insiders would relish the chance to see him again, former Red Bull head of operations Richard Hopkins, who rubbed shoulders with Schumacher during his tenure at McLaren, made it clear he only wants a reunion if the German icon is genuinely in good health.

Hopkins told iPredicta: "I hope we see him again. I'd love to. But only if that's right. I don't think anybody wants to see Michael in a situation we don't want to see Michael in, or Michael doesn't want us to see him in.", reports the Express.

"So I'd love to see Michael, but I'd love to see Michael okay. I think 'okay' is the right word to use. But equally, at the same time, if he's not okay, I'd rather not.

"I don't know what Corinna thinks. I don't know what her thoughts on this are but maybe it's in some ways aligned to that, in as far as it's Michael.

"He was the ultimate in strength, and I think she's protecting him more than maybe protecting herself and the family and everything else.

"I'd love to see Michael and have a chat with him, and have a coffee with Michael, rather than see him in a not-okay situation. So you've got to respect that."

A Netflix documentary released recently chronicled his maiden F1 title with Benetton in 1994, a heartbreaking and contentious season that saw Ayrton Senna lose his life in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix while being chased by Schumacher.

The film features input from Corinna and provides an intimate look at the iconic driver off the track. Hopkins revealed that Schumacher was far warmer than the detached figure many believed him to be.

He said: "Schumacher was a very emotional guy, wore his heart on his sleeve, as far as occasions where he got emotionally angry, I suppose. Not necessarily emotionally sad.

"I'm sure there were other occasions when he did. The guy wasn't completely made of steel; he wasn't a bloody robot.

"He was a human being at the end of the day. So I'm sure behind closed doors a lot of what we saw was a bit of an act, dare I say, but I think that was all for his reasoning."