Cape Town - The Formula 1 community has paid tribute to Michael Schumacher, four years on from the skiing accident that left him with horrific injuries.

The seven-times World Champion was put in a medically induced coma on December 29, 2013 after he fell and hit his head while skiing in the French Alps.

After being initially treated in Lausanne, Switzerland, he was eventually moved home in September 2014, but the family has kept updates about his condition to a minimum.

Friday, though, marked the fourth anniversary of the accident and Fernando Alonso and Damon Hill were among those who paid tribute.

Alonso posted a video on Twitter and wrote "Missing Michael" while Jenson Button retweeted the Spaniard's post with "Special times buddy #KeepFightingMichael" comment.

Felipe Massa spent years as Schumacher's Ferrari team-mate and in an interview with Formula1.com he said: "Michael was my teacher, he was very nice, very kind to me. He gave a big opportunity to me."

In a reply to Massa's interview, Damon Hill tweeted: "He wasn’t quite so kind to me! But I forgive him. Shame we never got to get to know one another better. Great shame."

Missing this. Missing Michael. #KeepFightingMichael ???? https://t.co/qCeQL12Gfi

— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) December 29, 2017

Special times buddy #KeepFightingMichael https://t.co/dEuR3M1rmp

— Jenson Button (@JensonButton) December 29, 2017

He wasn’t quite so kind to me! But I forgive him. Shame we never got to get to know one another better. Great shame. @MassaFelipe19 @schumacher #F1 #KeepfightingMichael https://t.co/0KZB7aKGac

— Damon Hill (@HillF1) December 29, 2017