It has been over a year since the December 2013 skiing accident that left F1 racing legend Michael Schumacher in a medically-induced coma until he regained consciousness in June last year. Although reportedly paralyzed, the family took him home to Switzerland in September to continue recovering. Reports now say that his condition is improving, albeit slowly. 

According to an Italian paper Corriere della Serra, as cited by Mirror back in January, the former racer cries when he hears familiar sounds, particularly the voices of his closest friends and loved ones. Schumacher is said to recognize familiar faces, although various reports indicate that the recovery process will be long and hard. 

There has been very few updates regarding his condition as his family and friends have been tight-lipped about the situation following the skiing accident. According to Alberto Sabbatini, editor in chief at Autosprint, the racer is not entirely stuck to his bed. Sabbatini stated in his article that the champion racer continues to receive physical therapy in order to combat muscle atrophy and that he spends time sitting on his chair looking out the window. 

Sabbatini also wrote, as cited by Venture Capital Post, that the tears shed by the racer are a sign that he is alive and recovering. Despite being trapped in an immobile body, his tears show that he is emotionally responding to the stimuli around him and that he still understands what is going around him. 

Schumacher is a seven-time F1 World Champion and is known in the racing world as one of the greatest legends in the sport.