Fans hold a Ferrari flag on December 31, 2013 in front of the Grenoble University Hospital Center.
(CNN) -- Car maker Ferrari and the family of Michael Schumacher praised his fighting spirit Friday as the former world champion racing driver marked his 45th birthday in a coma at a French hospital.
Schumacher suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps on Sunday.
Since then, he has undergone two operations and is said to be in stable but critical condition at the hospital in Grenoble city.
"We would like to thank the people from all around the world who have expressed their sympathy and sent their best wishes for his recovery. They are giving us great support," his family posted on his official website.
"We all know he is a fighter and will not give up."
Ferrari, for whom Schumacher -- the most successful driver in Formula 1 history -- won 72 Grands Prix between 1996 and 2006, also posted a birthday message on its website.
"This is a special day for Ferrari and all its fans, as it is Michael Schumacher's birthday," it said.
"At the moment, he is tackling the most important fight of his life and therefore we want to send him very special wishes."
In a Facebook post, Scuderia Ferrari, the racing team division of the Italian car maker, urged fans to join a vigil outside his hospital to show their support on his birthday.
People should dress in red and it will be "a silent and respectful event," the page said.
Schumacher's manager, Sabine Kehm, said Wednesday that the driver was in a stable condition, but it's too early to speculate on his prospects for recovery.
He was catapulted head first onto a rock while skiing with family and friends in the resort of Meribel, she said.
On Monday night, doctors carried out a surgical intervention that relieved some pressure on his brain. They reported a slight improvement in his condition Tuesday, but he remained critically ill.
3:02 AM
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