Michael Schumacher's family has urged his fans to “remember and celebrate his victories, his records and his jubilation” as he nears his 50th birthday.
The most successful driver in Formula 1 history has not been seen in public since he hit his head in a skiing accident in the French Alps five years ago.
His family has kept his recovery private ever since the accident – however they released a rare statement this morning.
1/5 Statement von Michaels Familie: Wir freuen uns darüber und möchten uns von Herzen bedanken dafür, dass ihr Michaels 50. Geburtstag morgen gemeinsam mit ihm und mit uns feiert. Um ihm, uns und euch ein Geschenk zu machen, hat @keepfighting ein virtuelles Museum geschaffen. pic.twitter.com/CnBFIGhBYc
— Michael Schumacher (@schumacher) January 2, 2019
In a statement, the family said: "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."
Celebrate the 50th birthday of the most successful ferrarista in history, #MichaelSchumacher: come and discover the #Michael50 at #MuseoFerrari for the next few months. #KeepFighting https://t.co/wKFHPjAANn pic.twitter.com/n8YXoPFTAG
— Museo Ferrari (@MuseoFerrari) January 2, 2019
Schumacher is understood to be receiving treatment at the family home in Lake Geneva, Switzerland.
On Schumacher's birthday, Ferrari will launch an exhibition at their Maranello headquarters in northern Italy, to honour his successes with the Italian team.
His son, 19-year-old Mick Schumacher, is being watched closely by both Ferrari and Mercedes, with rumours he could be on the F1 track by 2022.
He won F3 in 2018 and will compete in F2 in 2019.
