Niki Lauda has said that he will "pray to God" for Michael Schumacher's recovery.
The seven-time Formula 1 champion is in a critical but stable condition in a French hospital following a skiing accident on Sunday.
The Austrian, who suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash at the 1976 German Grand Prix, told The Mirror: "I pray to God that it will all end well, but sadly it doesn't seem that way at the moment. I believe there is someone up there trying to help in this situation.
"He decides things we cannot understand. I find it completely shocking and unexplainable why this great driver, who won seven championships in over 300 races and stayed alive, could have something like this happen to him. The news is not encouraging."
Lauda recovered from inhaling toxic fumes and severe burns to race again within six weeks, finishing his career with three world titles.
