THE pal of F1 legend Michael Schumacher claims the family are "waiting for science" to bring him back to "the Michael we all knew".
Ex teammate, Johnny Herbert, revealed that he thinks that Schumacher is probably in the "similar situation" as he was after his accident - given lack of health updates.
Schumacher hasn't been seen since he was involved in a horrific skiing crash in 2013 - and information on his health has been scarce.
However, it now appears some questions about the star's health may have finally been answered, following years of mystery.
Herbert told : "Because we haven’t heard anything from the family, it shows that unfortunately he is probably in the similar situation as he was straight after the accident.
"It doesn’t seem they have moved much, if at all. I suppose the family is waiting for science to come up with something that will hopefully bring back the Michael we all knew.
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It comes as in the same interview Herbert claimed he has heard from those within F1 that Schumacher reportedly "sits at the dinner table" - but said he couldn't be sure.
He also said that as far as he knows only a handful of people are permitted to visit Schumacher including his family and a "very few trusted individuals".
He told BettingSites.co.uk: "I have heard Ross Brawn has gone, Jean Todt Gerhard Berger. That is sort of it as far as I believe."
Herbert also shared some of his "lovely memories" of his time spent with Schumacher - including his fondness for booze and his "party piece."
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He said: "We all know there was the massively serious side to him totally driven by getting the best out of himself.
"But there was that end of season downtime, the relaxed moment we always had after Adelaide.
"He would enjoy the alcohol treats that were available and we all did. We could only do it once a year.
He added: "He would go around the room and his party piece was to rip off everybody's shirts. Trousers too. But it was mainly buttoned shirts which he would love to rip off.
"That was the fun side of him. Those are the memories most people didn’t see, but they are the lovely memories I have of him.
"He had a great sense of humour and hopefully something we will see again."
Last week it was revealed Schumacher's daughter, Gina, will marry her fiance later this year.
The 26-year-old is set to tie the knot with 27-year-old boyfriend Iain Bethke later this year, reports German magazine and Spanish publication .
This is not the only time Johnny Herbert has made headlines recently.
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In November he claimed he “doesn’t listen” to Christian Horner as he responded to the claim that Lewis Hamilton could join Red Bull.
Red Bull team principal Horner claimed that a member of the Brit’s entourage had reached out to him regarding a sensational switch.