Michael Schumacher is responding to his claimed by his former boss at Ferrari.
More than two years have passed since Schumacher suffered a ski accident, which still leaves him in a coma.
The German is still being cared for at his palatial home on the shores of Lake Geneva by full-time staff.
But Luca di Montezemelo has revealed that Schumacher is responding well as his rehabilitation continues.
"I'm very pleased to know that he is reacting," he told Ecumenical News.
"I know how strong he is. I'm sure that thanks to his determination; which will be crucial, he will come out from this very, very difficult situation."
Earlier this year manager Sabine Kehm said she hoped that Schumacher would "one day be back with us".
"He is the most successful driver in history and sometimes, on days like this, it is good to be reminded of it," she said.
"Of course, Michael is not here and of course we miss him. We know what has happened and cannot change it.
"We must accept it and hope with everything we have that with continued support and patience he will one day be back with us.
"Racing was his life and no one would have liked to have been here more than him."
Back in December, Schumacher's manager branded claims her client was walking again as "irresponsible."
German magazine Bunte claimed Schumacher, a seven-time F1 world champion, was walking again in a front page exclusive published in the last few days.
The report featured a comment from an unnamed friend of Schumacher's, who said: "Michael is very thin. But he can once again walk a little with the help of his therapists.
"He manages to make a couple of steps. And he can also raise an arm."
But Kehm denied the reports.
She said at the time: "Unfortunately, we are forced by a recent press report to clarify that the assertion that Michael could move again is not true.
"Such speculation is irresponsible, because given the seriousness of his injuries, his privacy is very important for Michael.
"Unfortunately they also give false hopes to many involved people."
Schumacher was on holiday with wife Corinna and his two children when he hit his head on rocks in the ski resort of Mirabel on December 29, 2013.
He was in a medically induced coma at hospital in Grenoble for six months, before being transferred to Lausanne, and then in September 2014 back to his home town in Germany where he continues to receive medical treatment and rehabillitation.
His doctor spoke about his condition in December 2015.
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