( CNN ) -- He has been in a medically induced coma for over a month , but former Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher 's sedation is being reduced to start the `` waking up process , '' his agent said Thursday . Schumacher suffered severe head trauma in a skiing accident at the French Alps resort of Meribel on December 29 . The announcement marks a key change to Schumacher 's condition , which has been routinely described as `` stable '' by agent Sabine Kehm in recent weeks . `` Michael 's sedation is being reduced in order to allow the start of the waking up process which may take a long time , '' she said in a statement on Thursday . `` For the protection of the family , it was originally agreed by the interested parties to communicate this information only once this process was consolidated . `` Please note that no further updates will be given . '' Kehm went on to repeat previous requests for the media to respect the privacy of Schumacher 's family . `` The family of Michael Schumacher is again requesting to respect its privacy and the medical secret , and to not disturb the doctors treating Michael in their work . At the same time , the family wishes to express sincere appreciation for the worldwide sympathy . '' A seven-time world champion whose F1 career ended in 2012 , Schumacher has been treated in Grenoble since his accident . Neurosurgeons there operated twice to remove blood clots on the brain and reduce swelling , the reason he has been kept asleep since the surgery . The German has been inundated with support from around the world during his stay , with his former stable Mercedes running the message `` Keep Fighting Michael '' on its silver livery when they revealed their new car for testing on Monday . The Ferrari team , who Schumacher raced for between 1996 and 2006 , also showed their support for their five-time world champion this week in the Spanish city Jerez , where teams are conducting winter testing ahead of the new F1 season . On the eve of the first day of testing , the team 's crew posed with a pit board showing the message `` Forza Michael '' while the new F14-T scarlet racer made its track debut with the same words of encouragement . On Tuesday , the team published a note from Niki Lauda , who won two world championships for Ferrari in the 1970s , which read : `` Michael , every day I follow your improvements and every day I am close to you . I hope I can speak to you very , very soon ! '' Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso told CNN that F1 was `` still in shock '' over Schumacher 's accident and condition . `` The day that I received the news I could not believe it to be honest , '' Alonso , who was speaking in Madrid on Wednesday at an exhibition that charts the course of the driver 's career . `` He was the man that can beat anything and can win any race and can do anything without any worries , so to see him and to see the accident ... `` We 're all hoping every day to have some good news coming from the hospital , '' added Alonso . In early January , a French prosecutor investigating the accident said that speed was not a reason for Schumacher 's fall . His investigative team believe the experienced skier hit a rock hidden beneath the snow , while traversing an area between two marked pistes , which catapulted him face first onto another rock . Schumacher ended up 9 meters ( 30 feet ) from the edge of the piste , said prosecutor Patrick Quincy . Footage filmed on a small camera attached to Schumacher 's helmet has been used to help the investigators ' analysis .
Doctors reduce Michael Schumacher 's sedation to start 'waking up process ' Former F1 world champion has been in a medically-induced coma for a month . 45-year-old suffered a severe head injury when skiing in France in late December .