Michael Schumacher will be able to live 'a relatively normal life'

Close friends: Michael Schumacher, right, embracing his former boss Jean Todt in 2006.

Michael Schumacher will be able to live "a relatively normal life", says former Ferrari boss and current FIA president Jean Todt.

The Formula One legend suffered serious head injuries following a skiing accident in France last December, which left him in a medically-induced coma.

Todt, who became close friends with Schumacher during their time at Ferrari, delivered the promising news after recently visiting the seven-time world champion at his home in Switzerland.

"We may assume that Schumacher can live a relatively normal life within a short period of time," the FIA president told Belgian broadcaster RTL.

"What we can say is that he will probably never again drive a Formula One car."

He added: "He fights. His condition improves, which is very important as is the fact that he is now home with his family."

Todt's comments on Schumacher's health came as he asked for a full report into the accident that left Marussia driver Jules Bianchi in a critical condition in a Japanese hospital for a second night.

FIA race director Charlie Whiting is compiling the dossier and is expected to present his findings to Todt before Sunday's Russian Grand Prix.

An FIA spokesman said the "in-depth" investigation would 'cross-check a number of different sources of information to be as complete and detailed as possible in order to understand exactly why the accident occurred'.

Bianchi, the 25-year-old French driver of the British-based Marussia team, remained in intensive care in Yokkaichi after emergency surgery on a severe head injury, following his high-speed crash into a recovery vehicle during the latter stages of the rain-lashed Japanese Grand Prix.

Marussia issued a statement thanking people for a 'huge outpouring of support and affection for Jules and the team at this very difficult time', but did not give an update on his condition.

WATCH: Horrifying Jules Bianchi crash

An FIA spokesman confirmed later that he was "critical but stable".

Sources at the hospital said Bianchi was breathing but only with the help of a ventilator, not on his own as was originally reported in the French media on Sunday night.

The brain surgeon who advised Michael Schumacher's treatment, Frenchman Gerard Saillant, has flown out to Japan to join the team caring for Bianchi.

Bianchi's condition was the overwhelming topic of conversation among Formula One's tight-knit community as it gathered in various airport lounges on Monday. Many flights out of Japan and eventually on to Sochi, the home of Sunday's first race in Russia, were postponed by Typhoon Phanfone.

- With Daily Mail