Schumacher faces huge challenge, medics say

The operation took place overnight on Monday and a new scan carried out yesterday morning revealed that there had been a slight improvement in the 44-year-old motor racing legend’s condition.

But medical experts confirmed that “dangers are still there” for the champion driver and refused to be drawn on his prognosis.

Professor Emmanuel Gay, one of the specialists treating Schumacher, said: “We cannot say that we have won because there are still some highs and some lows, but it’s better than yesterday. He is still in a very critical condition, this has not changed.

“And we still cannot tell how he will be, which state he will be in when he does wake up. We cannot speculate on the future because once again it would be too early to do so.”

The seven-times champion was admitted to Grenoble Hospital in France suffering from intracranial haematoma – blood clots – bruising and swelling of the brain. Since his first surgery he has been kept in a state of hypothermia by controlling his temperature to keep it at 34C to 35C. He was reportedly travelling at speeds of up to 60mph when the accident happened.

He had gone with his family to Meribel in the French Alps for the festive season. Rescuers were on hand within minutes and he was initially conscious after the fall before deteriorating into a critical condition.