Michael Schumacher's family says he will recover

Former Formula One World champion Michael Schumacher’s family ‘strongly believe’ the racing legend will recover from his medically-induced coma, as they announced the seven-time champion is still in the ‘waking up process’.

The 45-year-old is still in the wake-up phase from an artificial coma at a Grenoble hospital, his agent Sabine Kehm said.

Doctors treating Schumacher had reportedly abandoned their attempts to bring him out of his artificial coma following setbacks.

The lack of official announcements regarding Schumacher’s condition has led to feverish speculation, with doctors in Grenoble, where he is being treated, forced to deny rumours earlier this week that the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver had died.

The German has undergone two operations since sustaining brain injuries after slamming his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in the French Alps resort of Meribel on December 29.

The champion was in a stable but critical condition until late January and doctors started lowering his sedation level two weeks ago to wake him up progressively.

"As assured from the beginning, we will continue to communicate any decisive new information on Michael's health state. We are aware that the wake-up phase can take a long time,” Kehm said.

"The family continues to strongly believe in Michael's recovery and place all their trust in the doctors ... The important thing is not the speed of the recovery but that Michael's healing process progresses in a continuous and controlled way," read a statement.

Schumacher, who quit the sport in 2012 after a disappointing three-year comeback with Mercedes following an earlier retirement from Ferrari at the end of 2006, won a record 91 Grands Prix.