Michael Schumacher’s wife appealed to the media yesterday to leave the French hospital they have staked out since the German was critically injured in a skiing accident nine days ago and to let the doctors do their job.

Corinna Schumacher also asked the media to leave her family in peace after German reports said on Monday there had been a slight improvement in the former driver’s condition, hours after Grenoble hospital had issued a bulletin saying he was still stable but critical.

“Please support us in our joint struggle with Michael,” Corinna said in a statement.

“It is important to me that you relieve the doctors and the hospital so they can work in peace.

“Please trust their statements and leave the hospital. Please also leave our family in peace.”

They were Corinna’s first public comments since a December 30 statement in which she thanked the medical team for their efforts and expressed gratitude to fans around the world for their outpouring of support.

Schumacher suffered brain injuries when his head hit a rock in France on December 27.

He has been in an induced coma since then and has undergone two operations in Grenoble.

Bild reported yesterday under the headline ‘First hopes for Schumi’ that the former driver nearly died twice last week.

It added that doctors were now more optimistic he would survive.

“Twice in the last week it looked like Schumi would lose the fight for his life,” Bild wrote.

French newspaper Le Dauphine Libere yesterday said that the camera Schumacher had on his skiing helmet was recording when he crashed.

The newspaper said investigators had footage that will be useful to understand the circumstances of the accident.

The prosecutor in Annecy is due to hold a news conference today.