Michael Schumacher’s wife Corinna has issued a rare update on the F1 star’s health.

The former racing driver still needs round the clock nursing care as he battles to overcome life-threatening injuries he sustained in a horrific skiing accident.

It is understood that while Schumacher remains paralysed he is able to answer questions from his wife and children Gina-Maria, 17, and son Mick, 15, by fluttering his eyes.

Doctors at the clinic in Switzerland hope to have Michael sitting upright in an advanced electronic wheelchair that he can control via his mouth within a few weeks.

According to reports in Croatian media, doctors Darko Chudy and Vedran Deletis, who have developed a revolutionary microchip implanting technique, may plan to use it to help him.

It is believed the microchip may be able to help him to walk and talk again after his extended period in a coma.

However, Sportsmail understands that he is not bed-ridden. Nor is he existing on tubes. Yet it is believed he is receiving extensive nursing and therapy care, which has been estimated to cost more than £50,000 a week.

He is, it can be revealed, living with his close family in the main body of his house rather than in an outbuilding that some reports suggested had been constructed in response to his injuries as a special medical facility, a sort of hospital at home.

But we were recently given a glimpse inside Schumacher’s life, through the words of an archbishop who is a confidant to two popes. Dr Georg Ganswein, Prefect of the Pontifical Household of Pope Francis and secretary of the retired Pope, Benedict XVI.

Speaking in the last few weeks to German newspaper Bild, Ganswein revealed: ‘I first talked to Corinna Schumacher and her mother. Then a therapist brought Michael Schumacher into the living room. I introduced myself and told him that I’m a secret fan, that I often watched his races, and that I was fascinated by how someone can steer such a machine through any weather at such high speed.

‘I greeted Michael and held his hands. They were warm. Some things words cannot transport, but a touch can. Holding the hand of a sick person is something deeply Christian that provides consolation and closeness. That was important to me.’

Todt is a regular visitor, too, but is careful never to disclose Michael’s condition. He confirmed, however, that they had watched last month’s Brazilian Grand Prix together at Schumacher’s house. ‘I have pictures of Michael in my offices and apartments,’ Todt has said often, sometimes close to tears. ‘He is like a son to me.’

Another of Schumacher’s old Ferrari team-mates, Rubens Barrichello, wanted to pay a visit, but was told: ‘It would not do him or me any good.’ He said: ‘So I have no news, but we must respect the wishes of the family.’

Jean Todt watched the Brazilian GP with him.

As in "we watched together" or "I watched while with Michael"?

Because I've watched races with my baby daughter or my cat and neither of them was actually aware of what was going on.

Todt did not go into further details.

We are very happy to celebrate Michael's 50th birthday tomorrow together with you and thank you from the bottom of our hearts that we can do this together. As a gift to him, you and us, Keep Fighting Foundation has created a virtual museum. The Official Michael Schumacher App will be released tomorrow, so that we can review all together Michael's successes. The app is another milestone in our effort to do justice to him and you, his fans, by celebrating his accomplishments. We wish you a lot of fun with it.

Michael can be proud of what he has achieved, and so are we! That's why we remember his successes with the Michael Schumacher Private Collection exhibition in Cologne, by publishing memories in social media and by continuing his charitable work through the Keep Fighting Foundation. We want to remember and celebrate his victories, his records and his jubilation.

You can be sure that he is in the very best of hands and that we are doing everything humanly possible to help him. Please understand if we are following Michael's wishes and keeping such a sensitive subject as health, as it has always been, in privacy. At the same time we say thank you very much for your friendship and wish you a healthy and happy year 2019.

I am constantly in touch with Corinna, and I totally agree with their decision,” Brawn told the Press Association. “Michael has always been a very private person and that’s been a guiding principle in his career, his life and his family always agreed with that choice.

“It’s completely understandable that Corinna has wanted to maintain the same approach, even after the tragic event, and it’s a decision we must all respect. I’m sure the millions of people who are still Michael fans will understand it, too.