File photo of Ferrari Formula One Driver Michael Schumacher of Germany Celebrates After Taking the Pole Position at the End of the Qualifying Session for the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Sakhir Racetrack in Manama
IN PHOTO: Ferrari Formula One driver Michael Schumacher of Germany celebrates after taking the pole position at the end of the qualifying session for the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Sakhir racetrack in Manama in this March 11, 2006 file picture. Reuters

The potential recovery for Michael Schumacher will be one to three years, according to one of the doctors who treated the seven-time world champion. Even though Schumacher has reportedly "made progress", the French doctor said that the stricken former Formula One (F1) racer should be given enough time to recuperate from the serious injuries he endured as a result of the catastrophic misfortune.

One of the doctors who attended to Schumacher when he was at the Grenoble Hospital, Jean-Francois Payen, said that the recovery time for the German ace would not be a short one as everyone hopes it would be.

"I have noted some progress, but I would say we should give him time," Payen said in an interview with French radio station RTL on Oct. 23. As for the chances of Schumacher making a full recovery, Payen gave a time frame based on patients who had similar brain injuries. "It's like for other patients. We are on a timescale which goes from one year to three years and we need to be patient."

In a news report by German news outlet Bild.de, it has been said that Payen has regularly paid Schumacher a visit to his villa in Geneva, Switzerland, after the 45-year-old retired F1 driver was brought home to continue rehabilitation at home.

Payen takes a trip to Schumacher's villa to find out if the German racer has made further progress. The French doctor also reports to Schumacher's wife Corinna and sons Mick and Gina and tell them about the changes that he had seen from the F1 champion. Payen said that the mere fact that Schumacher is at home plays a big role in his recovery.

Recently, Schumacher's son Mick has confirmed that his father is recovering little by little. Mick has told French commentator Jean-Louis Moncet that his father is "slowly waking up."

Schumacher's former Ferrari boss Jean Todt also occasionally visits him and has said that things will get better. Todt said that Schumacher just needs time to fully recover. Todt believes that Schumacher will be able to live a normal life even though things would never be the same as they were before.