Schumacher 'being gradually woken from coma'

Reports coming out of France are claiming Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher is gradually being woken from his coma and is responding "positively" to medical treatment, although there is still no official word from his management team.

L'Equipe newspaper said medics treating the German seven-time world champion started the phase of gradual awakening several days ago, London's Telegraph reported. The reports forced Schumacher's manager to once urge fans to ignore any updates that do not come from an official source.

"Michael's condition is still considered as stable," she told French publication Le Dauphine Libere. "I also repeat that Michael's family is very happy and confident with the work of the team of doctors treating Michael, and they trust them completely."

Schumacher has been in an artificial coma since his skiing accident on December 29. It is the first positive speculation to be reported by the media since his accident, following some publications suggesting he may remain in a "persistent vegetative state" for the rest of his life, or that he may never even come out of the coma.

The 45-year-old has been receiving round-the-clock care in Grenoble Hospital since he hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in Meribel, in the French Alps. His wife Corinna and his two children Gina Marie, 16, and Mick, 14, have remained at his bedside. Several F1 teams have shown their continuing support for Schumacher as testing for the 2014 season gets underway in Jerez, Spain.

Reigning world champion and good friend Sebastian Vettel told media on the opening day of the test that he is praying for a "miracle". "It's horrible, especially for his family and close friends, not knowing what is going to happen," he said. "I think I am still as shocked as everyone else and I pray and hope he will just come back and the miracle will happen and he will be the person he has always been before."

Ferrari, for whom Schumacher won five consecutive world championships, gathered for a team photo holding a pit board that read #ForzaMichael, their sole F14T racecar also bearing the same hashtag. Further down the pit lane, Mercedes, the manufacturer whom Schumacher has been linked with on and off since 1990, are running a similar message of support on their cars this season.