Former Ferrari driver Luca Badoer says that he is a regular visitor to Michael Schumacher's home to see the seven time world champion.
Schumacher continues to recover from a devastating skiing accident in December 2013 in the French Alps. The 49-year-old suffered serious head injuries after hitting his head on a rock, despite wearing a helmet at the time.
Schumacher has not been seen in public since that time, and information about his condition remains limited. But Badoer says he's seen his old friend on several occasions.
"I regularly visit him," the Italian told Diariodelweb.it this week.
"But the family wants to keep a sort of secrecy around him, and I fully respect their will.
"They do everything for the good of Michael," he added.
Badoer explained that Schumacher's wife is in charge of who is allowed to spend time with the former Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes driver.
"Corinna allows very few people to visit him," he said. "Let's respect what she wants, avoiding any polemic," he added.
Badoer's comments come just days after Rubens Barrichello had said he had been blocked from visiting his former long-time Maranello team mate.
"I tried to find a way to visit him," Barrichello told Brazil's Globo. "But they said to me 'It will not do you or him any good'.
"So I don't have any news," he added.
Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Mclaren's Lando Norris mastered Interlagos’ treacherous mixed conditions to claim victory ahead of the Red…
Charles Leclerc's difficult Sao Paulo Grand Prix ended on an even sourer note after the…
Kimi Antonelli had every reason to join Mercedes' celebrations at Interlagos on Sunday, but the…
The key to Max Verstappen's remarkable Sao Paulo Grand Prix recovery was not simply his…
Lando Norris had more than a third victory of the season to celebrate in Sao…
Mercedes has reclaimed the Formula 1 Constructors' Championship, ending a four-year wait to return to…