It's been more than a year since the skiing incident that left Formula 1 racer Michael Schumacher in a coma, but it seems that he is doing well, as far as circumstances allow.

According to Crossmap.com, reports and comments have put the situation into different perspectives, but the latest health update gave family, friends, and fans new hope for his well-being, as he now responds to stimuli and even cries upon hearing his family members.

The editor-in-chief of Autosport, according to Crossmap.com, said that the racer is in a "very slow recovery" but that there is still the silver lining to look forward to: "The good news is that Michael is not stuck in a bed. When not undergoing physical therapy to avoid muscle atrophy, he sits in a chair in front of the windows of his villa, overlooking on one side the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps, and the other the shores of Lake Geneva."

Sabbatini continued, "Michael has his eyes open, but he is often looking into the void." He continued. "In recent times, he has been able to recognize the familiar faces of his family, but cannot communicate with them. He does not speak and he is not able to perform movements independently.

He reacts to external stimuli, but for now, can only answer a familiar voice by moving his eyes. In a wonderful article in the Corriere della Sera on Sunday, Giorgio Teruzzi said that sometimes a tear rolls down Michael's face. He cries when he hears the voice of his children or Corrina."

Former F1 Racer Philippe Streiff also said in French Newspaper, Le Parisien, that Schumacher "still has not regained the power of speech....but begins to recognize his own wife and children."

Despite the reports of the F1 racer doing better and recognizing family, his manager, Sabine Kehm told CNN that Streiff has not been in contact with them and that they had no idea where he got his information, telling the news site, "I can only confirm that I do not know where Mr Streiff has his information from because he has no contact with us and never has."

Whether or not news of his improvement are true or not, the racing community shared messages for Schumacher on the anniversary of his accident, telling him to keep fighting. Among the well-wishers is Romain Grosjean who took his message to Twitter, saying, "It has been one year already... #KeepFightingMichael our thougts [sic] are still with you and your family."