( CNN ) -- Michael Schumacher might be in a medically induced coma but the Formula One great has shown enough `` small , encouraging signs '' to give his family confidence that he will `` wake up . '' The 45-year-old suffered a severe head injury while skiing on December 29 in the French Alps . `` We are and remain confident that Michael will pull through and will wake up , '' said Michael Schumacher 's manager Sabine Kehn in a statement Wednesday . `` There sometimes are small , encouraging signs , but we also know that this is the time to be very patient . '' Germany 's seven-time world champion was placed into a medically-induced coma to help reduce swelling on the brain after the accident . Schumacher has had two operations to relieve pressure on his brain and to remove haematomas at Grenoble Hospital , France . He retired from F1 in 2012 following a record-breaking 19-year career . He had been skiing off-piste when he fell and hit his head against a rock . `` Michael has suffered severe injuries , '' added Kehn . `` It is very hard to comprehend for all of us that Michael , who had overcome a lot of precarious situations in the past , has been hurt so terribly in such a banal situation . Why induced comas help injured brains . `` It was clear from the start that this will be a long and hard fight for Michael . We are taking this fight on together with the team of doctors , whom we fully trust . The length of the process is not the important part for us . '' Over the last few months , Kehn has often asked the media to show respect for the privacy of Schumacher 's family and she repeated that call in her statement . `` It is heart-warming to see how much sympathy his family is shown and I can say that the family is extremely grateful for it . `` However , it should not be forgotten that Michael 's family is dealing with an extremely intimate and fragile situation . `` And I would like to remind all of us that Michael has always actively kept his family out of the public eye and consequently protected their private lives . `` We try to channel all the energies we have toward Michael and we firmly believe that this will help him . And we believe that he will also win this fight . '' Schumacher , who won five consecutive titles with Ferrari between 2000-04 , also claimed two drivers ' championships at Benetton in 1994 and 1995 . The 2014 F1 season starts this weekend in Australia . Family 'strongly believe ' he will recover .
Michael Schumacher showing `` small , encouraging signs '' Schumacher 's family is confident he `` will wake up '' German is in a medically induced coma after suffering a severe head injury . Schumacher manager repeats call for German 's family to given privacy .