Formula One legend Michael
Schumacher showing 'slight
improvement,' doctors say Michael Schumacher improving slightly
after ski accident Doctors say the Formula One racing legend who
suffered a critical head injury skiing in the French
Alps is showing signs of improvement, though they
caution it's too early to make speculations. An
investigation is being conducted at the site of the
accident where initial reports say the impact of Schumacher's fall shattered his helmet. By Jason Cumming, Staff Writer, NBC News Doctors treating Michael Schumacher said Tuesday
that new scans showed "slight improvement" in the
Formula One icon's condition after he underwent a
second operation to relieve pressure on his brain. "We can't say he is out of danger but ... we have gained
a bit of time," Dr. Jean-Francois Payen, the doctor in
charge of Grenoble University Hospital's intensive care
unit, told a press conference. "The coming hours are
crucial." The seven-time Formula One world champion suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps resort of Meribel on Sunday.  Initial findings
indicated the blow was so hard that Schumacher's
helmet shattered. Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters, file Formula One icon Michael Schumacher
skis in January 2006. The crash left Schumacher, 44, with internal bleeding
and injuries including contusions and lesions. Emmanuel Gay, head of the hospital's neurosurgery
service, said the latest operation involved removing a
large hematoma - the medical term for a build-up of
blood - from the left-hand side of Schumacher's brain. Doctors offered no predictions Tuesday on whether or
when they would bring the German out of an induced
coma, intended to relieve swelling. "We cannot tell you any more on the future," said
Gerard Saillant, a surgeon and friend of the family. Schumacher is the most successful Formula One driver
of all time with a record 91 race victories in a career
spanning more than two decades. He retired last year. Schumi, as his fans affectionately call him, was
famously aggressive on the track and no less intense
off-hours. In retirement, he remained an avid skier,
skydiver and horseback rider. Schumacher's manager, Sabine Kehm, confirmed that
his helmet cracked on impact. "It looks like probably that initiating a corner, he was
hitting a stone which he had not seen and was
catapulted down on a rock," Kehm said. "That is
extremely and very unfortunate ... really very, very bad
luck. Michael was not at high speed." Citing Kehm, Germany's Bild tabloid also reported
Tuesday that a journalist tried to gain access to
Schumacher's hospital room by dressing up as a
priest.