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Giancarlo Fisichella pays tribute to former rival Michael Schumacher

Giancarlo Fisichella pays tribute to former rival Michael Schumacher

05-12-2018 12:17 Last update: 12:24
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Bobby Vincent

Giancarlo Fisichella has paid an emotional and moving tribute to his former F1 rival Michael Schumacher; saying that the legend of F1 "rewrote the history of Formula 1.

Fisichella was part of the Renault team that was led by Fernando Alonso, that pipped Schumacher and Ferrari in the mid-2000s.

Schumacher has been in a bad condition ever since 2013, when the all-time most successful Formula 1 driver had a skiing accident and suffered serious brain injuries.

The German is currently recovering at his house in Switzerland, but has not been seen publicly since the accident over five years ago.

"We were friends," Fisichella told Rai. "He was a great football fan and we regularly kicked a ball together. As a colleague, he was an incredible opponent, and he rewrote the history of Formula 1.

"Having raced with him, he has given me so much, and the few times I came in front made me even more proud because he is a great champion. It is a cruel fate that someone who as a race so often risked his life is badly injured while skiing.

"I would like to embrace him and talk to him. I would tell him how well his son Mick is developing, that he is winning races and maybe be world champion one day, like his father.

"I hope from the bottom of my heart that he can live a normal life again. Nobody knows what to tell me about his condition and that makes me very sad."