On the afternoon of 29 December last year, news began filtering through that seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher had been involved in a skiing accident. Whilst the initial reports were based on hearsay and Chinese whispers and therefore often wildly incorrect, in time the true nature of the accident and the severity of his injuries became clear.

The German, who had only ever had one crash during his F1 career that resulted in an injury (Silverstone 1999) was now fighting for his life.

As days became weeks, became months, whilst 'experts' and ‘friends’ emerged to give their opinion, the only source of facts regarding his condition came from his long-term official spokesperson and manager, Sabine Kehm.

On the anniversary of that horrific day, Ms Kehm, though not releasing an official statement, has confirmed that the German is making progress, whilst dismissing the claims of Philippe Streiff, who, not for the first time, has made a number of controversial observations.

"We need a long time," Kehm told Reuters. "It's going to be a long time and a hard fight. He is making progress appropriate to the severity of the situation."

Asked about Streiff, a former F1 driver who was left quadriplegic following a crash during pre-season testing at the Jacarepagua circuit Rio de Janeiro in 1989, and described by Le Parisien as a "friend" of Schumacher's, Kehm said: "I cannot confirm that. I can only confirm that I do not know where Mr Streiff has his information from because he has no contact with us and he never has."

In the days, weeks and months that followed Schumacher's accident, we witnessed much of the media's bad side, from misreporting, sensationalism, attempting to take pictures of the man as he fought for his life in intensive care and even a plot to buy his medical records.

As we send Michael, his family and those caring for him, our very best wishes, it is best to rely on updates from those really close to him and those treating him. Those who have his best interests at heart.