Michael Schumacher 'could recover from serious head injury within three years'

French doctor Jean-Francois Payen has revealed that it is possible for Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher to recover from his serious head injury within three years.

The physician, who helped care for Schumacher at the Grenoble hospital in France, recently visited the 45-year-old at his Switzerland home.

Schumacher, who was hospitalised for around six months after hitting his head while skiing off-piste in the French Alps in December, returned home to continue his rehabilitation in September, three months after he awoke from an induced coma.

Payen told RTL Radio that a three-year recovery process is possible, before adding: "Life after a head injury is punctuated by stages. We hope, but we have to give him time."

Schumacher, who has won seven world titles in his career, retired from Formula 1 in 2012.