Paris, Jan 3: The family of injured Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher has thanked fans for their "great support".

"We all know he is a fighter and will not give up," reported BBC citing the family in an online statement.

Schumacher, who turns 45 Friday, remains in a stable but critical condition, his manager said earlier.

The most successful F1 racer in history is in a medically induced coma in hospital in Grenoble, after a skiing accident in the French Alps. He was skiing off-piste when he fell and hit his head Sunday. His helmet cracked on impact after hitting a rock.

IANS