It's a case of being damned if one does and damned if one doesn't.

Yesterday, speaking to journalists in Milan, former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo was asked about the driver with whom the Italian team enjoyed a period of almost unbelievable domination.

"I have unfortunately not good news," he admitted. "Michael was a great driver, and we experienced a long time together in both our personal and professional lives. But life is really strange. He was the most successful driver of Ferrari and in his career he had only one accident, in 1999. But unfortunately a fall in a ski accident has had serious consequences."

Not for the first time, the comments provoked a media frenzy, the legendary German's name once again trending on Twitter, the social media site that has been the bearer of so much bad news of late.

Schumacher's manger, Sabine Kehm, has not yet commented on Montezemolo's words, but then again she doesn't have to as the former Ferrari man doesn't actually reveal anything.

He merely said that he doesn't have any good news. Indeed, he doesn't have any news. He certainly didn't say he had bad news, which is the way some sections of the media are spinning it.

Montezemolo was asked a question and he gave a straight answer, sadly, in some quarters this has been deliberately misinterpreted.

Some believe that the public has a right to updates on the German's condition, blaming the lack of news on Kehm and the Schumacher family.

Fact is we have no rights.

Michael Schumacher repaid his 'debt' to the public many times over. He is arguably one of the finest drivers ever to have graced the F1 grid, and whilst there was controversy so too there was a determination and arrogance that only the very greatest exponents of a discipline ever realise.

Despite the media-bashing during his final stint with Mercedes, there is no doubt that, along with Ross Brawn, he laid foundations - as was the case at Benetton and Ferrari - that Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are still reaping. Indeed, on reflection, Rosberg's obvious talent clearly demonstrates that Schumacher's return from retirement was not the misguided, waste of time some claim it was.

Our seven-time-world champion was seriously injured in a skiing accident in late 2013, at present he continues his slow recovery surrounded by those who love him.

Rather than demanding constant updates, maybe it would be best to leave Michael and his family to fight the fight in peace, and let them tell us something when they feel the time is right.

Michael Schumacher's commitment to F1 is at an end, now is his time, his family's time, and we must learn to respect that.