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The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) is to name the first corner of its track after F1 legend Michael Schumacher, who lies deeply comatose and in critical condition in hospital after a skiing accident, following consultation with his family.
The motorsport venue is honouring Schumacher as part of its 10th anniversary, which will also be the BIC’s first Formula 1 night race on April 6.
Schumacher, who won the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix in 2004 – and still holds the lap record – won an unprecedented seven world championships during his illustrious career.
Zayed Al Zayani, chairman of the BIC, said: “With the support of his family, it is a great privilege to be able to honour arguably the greatest racing driver in the history of F1 and someone who the people of Bahrain hold close to their hearts.
“From his first appearance at the BIC in 2004, he immediately became an inspiration for all those who love motorsport in the kingdom and it is, therefore, natural for us to recognise him in this way.”
The retired driver has strong connections with the BIC outside of his participation in racing and was directly involved in the early stages of the BIC’s development, offering his own input into the design of the track, including the layout of turn one.
The team at the BIC continues to offer Michael and his family its best wishes, added Al Zayani, and its kindness has been acknowledged.
Sabine Kehm, speaking on behalf of the Schumacher family, said: “Michael’s family would like to thank the BIC for this gesture, acknowledging Michael’s achievements in Formula One and interest in the circuit design. We take it as a recognition for his passion for motorsport. I am convinced Michael will love the idea and feel very honoured about having a BIC corner named after him.”
Schumacher is being treated in the neurological intensive care unit at University Hospital Centre in Grenoble, France, after travelling from a rocky slope at the Méribel ski resort 45 miles away by air.
The outlook for Schumacher, 45, has been obscured by a decision of his doctors and his family not to give regular updates on his progress.
His injuries prompted two operations in his first 36 hours at the hospital to remove blood clots from his brain, and a statement by his doctors after the second operation said scans had revealed multiple clots in deeper areas of the brain that were not accessible to surgery.
Those deep clots, medical experts say, pose the most serious threat to Schumacher’s recovery, and perhaps to his survival.
Unable to remove them, the Grenoble doctors began a new and critical phase of treatment more than three weeks ago – an effort to bring Schumacher out of the medically induced coma in which he has lain since he arrived on December 29.
