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London, England - Reginaldo Leme, the famous Brazilian F1 commentator, says he can understand why Michael Schumacher's family is so carefully guarding its privacy.
Earlier in October, Wheels24 reported that one of Schumacher's closest friends and former colleagues, Ross Brawn, said there is still "hope" the F1 legend will recover.
Former F1 champion weighs just 75kg
The latest media reports indicate that Schumacher, listed at the height of his powers in F1 as weighing 75kg, has lost a staggering 30kg, with his round-the-clock medical treatment now costing the family some $150 000 a week.
Leme, a highly respected member of the sport's travelling circus for decades, told the Brazilian broadcaster SporTV that even Schumacher's closest friends no longer visit the great seven time world champion at his home in Switzerland.
Schumacher in vegetative state
Leme said: "The family has stopped any kind of information and access, particularly to the press. But not even his closest friends have been visiting Schumacher.
"For a long time now, Massa has not gone there. Because he understands that it is the time for his family and he wants to protect that."
Leme added: "Everyone knows that he (Schumacher) is in a vegetative state. He has lost muscle mass and is very thin. It came out in a German newspaper that he weighs 45kgs, the family went crazy and sued the newspaper.
"I doubt that the information came from inside the family. So I see it as the family's right to protect him."