Michael Schumacher’s family has been ardently protective over his privacy ever since the F1 legend’s life was forever changed by a horrific alpine ski accident 11 years ago.
And in guarding him, the women around him – his wife, Corinna, 55, and daughter Gina, 27, look to have formed a special bond.
The pair have always been close, but have shown themselves to be an exceptionally united force as relatives have weathered an increasing opening up to the public when it comes to the ex-racing star – whose health condition has never been revealed to fans.
Both have also been on hand to stand by Ralf – Michael’s brother – who came out as gay earlier this year, followed by claims from his ex-wife Cora alleging that she was ‘psychologically manipulated’ during their marriage.
The strength of their familial ties appeared to be firmly in place following last weekend’s glamourous wedding of the Schumachers’ equestrian champion daughter Gina to Iain Bethke at the family’s luxury Mallorca villa – an exclusive four-acre estate high above the glitzy resort of Port d’Andratx.
Michael Schumacher’s family has been ardently protective over his privacy. And in guarding him, the women around him – his wife, Corinna, 55, and daughter Gina, 27, look to have formed a special bond. Corinna with a young Gina in 2000
The happy occasion saw the wider family invited in to celebrate the couple’s nuptials.
While privacy was still closely guarded – guests’ phones were left at the door – it’s suggested the wedding marked the first time Michael has been allowed to be seen in a public setting, as he watched his eldest child walk down the aisle.
Corinna – who shares a passion of horse-riding with her daughter Gina – has in past shared how it was Michael who helped fuel her equestrian pursuits.
In 2019, speaking to She Magazine, Corinna revealed she had 40 horses and credited her husband with helping her passion.
In 2005, for their 10-year wedding anniversary he gifted her a ranch in Switzerland – that she and Gina now help organise events at. Corinna also now also has one in Texas.
‘When I was 30, I very much wanted to have a horse and Michael went with me to Dubai, where I intended to buy an Arabian horse,’ she said in an interview with the outlet.
‘He did everything for me. I will never forget who I have to thank. That would be my husband Michael.’
She added she feels ‘the greatest pride’ when she sees Gina’s love for riding too.
The pair have always been close, but have shown themselves to be an exceptionally united force as relatives have weathered an increasing opening up to the public. Pictured at an event in Cologne together
Corinna – who shares a passion of horse-riding with her daughter Gina – has in past shared how it was Michael who helped fuel her equestrian pursuits. Both pictured with Michael and Corinna’s son, Mick
‘What she has already achieved and how much fun she is – that makes me happy,’ Corinna explained.
Gina’s recent nuptials have also offered a chance for herself and Corinna to reconnect with Michael’s brother Ralf.
The 49-year-old ex racing star this summer revealed he’s in a relationship with French business manager Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne, following the breakdown of his marriage to ex-wife Cora nine years ago – with whom he shares a son, David, 22.
While Ralf has struggled to accept Corinna’s privacy over his brother’s health – which has largely excluded him, his own openness about his sexuality appears to have helped heal relations.
There have been rumours in the past that the family were concerned that OnlyFans and reality TV star Cora, who has publicly lashed out as Ralf over the relationship, has the potential to be indiscreet.
The Schumachers, however, seemingly have no concerns about Ralf and Etienne after inviting them to the wedding.
The Schumacher brothers shared a good relationship and remained close throughout their careers, but Ralf is said to have lost touch with the immediate family since his brother’s fateful accident.
Gina’s recent nuptials have also offered a chance for herself and Corinna to reconnect with Michael’s brother Ralf. With his ex Cora in 2007
In the past, Michael’s brother Ralf, himself a former F1 driver, has criticised the way his sister-in-law has created a ring of privacy around his brother – but his own life change, coming out as gay earlier this year, appears to have also brought the Schumacher clan closer together
Last year, he revealed he was no longer in close contact with Michael and his wife Corinna but says he is always there to offer support.
‘When I see his children Gina-Maria and Mick, my heart smiles,’ Ralf shared with German magazine Bunte as he detailed his distant relationship with the family.
‘If someone in the family is looking for my advice, I’m there. They go their own way.’
However, Ralf’s coming out appears to have helped bring the long-standing distance between himself and his brother’s wife to an end.
He was previously married to Cora for 14 years before the pair separated back in 2015.
In July, Ralf shared that he is in a same-sex relationship – and his news, coupled with Gina’s wedding this weekend appears to have brought the family closer together.
German actress Carmen Geiss, a close friend of the couple, revealed that Ralf had already been in a relationship for two years with Etienne.
Gina recently wished her father a happy birthday in a heartfelt Instagram post, which included a throwback shot with her brother Mick and father Michael
The couple went public with their relationship in December 2017, when they stepped out at an awards ceremony together (pictured attending the Audi Generation Award 2017 at Hotel Bayerischer Hof on December 13, 2017 in Munich)
Michael Schumacher pictured with his wife of 29-years Corinna at the 2005 FIA Awards gala, 9 December 2005 in Monaco
Gina – pictured last year – is an equestrian who has reportedly made millions from owning and riding horses
‘They met in Monaco. Ralf lives in Salzburg with his son, Etienne lives in Nice. But the two are together quite often,’ Geiss said, adding the pair are ‘sensationally happy’ and have ‘never had an argument or dispute’.
Ralf’s son, racing driver David came out in full support of his father’s decision to reveal his same sex relationship, writing: ‘I’m very happy that you’ve finally found someone with whom you can really tell that you feel comfortable and safe.’
However, his ex-wife Cora claimed she found out over social media and believes she was ‘psychologically manipulated’ by the F1 star during their marriage.
‘I wish Ralf had included me or at least let me be part of his decision. It would have been a sign of respect,’ she told Der Spiegel, via Marca.
‘During his career in F1, there were many rumours in the paddock. I asked him to clarify if what was being said was true, but he always denied it, telling me that I was imagining everything and that maybe I needed psychological help.
‘When he announced it, it was like a stab in the heart. Coming out always affects those around you, including the ex-wife with whom you had a child.
‘Today I feel used during the marriage. I feel like I’ve wasted my best years. I ask myself many questions. Was he honest with me?… I trusted him blindly and that’s why his word was law for me.’
Following her claims, Ralf in turn branded his ex-wife a ‘liar’ and published screenshots of WhatsApp messages sent by Cora to Etienne last year to congratulate them on their union and even asking if they were married.
But Cora hit back at the move to release the private conversation, labelling it ‘pathetic’ and ‘illegal’, insisting that she was on a fishing expedition, trying to establish the nature of their relationship.
Cora claimed that Ralf had introduced Etienne merely as an assistant, and not someone he was romantically involved with.
She added: ‘The WhatsApp was my last attempt to at least find out the truth from him.’
Cora and Ralf were still believed to be close prior to his announcement as he congratulated her on joining the cast of the German version of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in January.
It comes as Michael has appeared ‘in public’ at his daughter’s wedding last weekend.
No guests were allowed to take photos on their phones at Gina’s lavish nuptials to her long-term showjumper boyfriend.
However, the fact their nuptials were held at the Schumacher’s Spanish estate – with Michael reportedly present amongst wider family members for the first time in over a decade suggests a huge shift in approach.
With money no object, the couple – who were engaged for seven years – could have had their pick of venues, but instead chose to welcome their guests into the family home.
The newlyweds said ‘I do’ around 4pm on Saturday under an arch of flowers at Villa Yasmin, the property Corinna is understood to have bought in 2017 for £27million from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
The villa has a landing pad and Michael is regularly flown from to Port d’Andratx from the family home by Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
It is part of a 15,000 square metre estate which boasts two swimming pools, a helipad, a gym and a huge palm-tree-fringed garden.
The 27-year-old bride’s big day could prove a much-needed balm on the wider Schumacher family relationships, which have become deeply fractured because Corinna has guarded her husband so closely since he was left with life-changing injuries on December 29th 2013.
The ceremony lasted around half an hour according to respected Majorcan daily Ultima Hora, with the newspaper reporting the couple treated guests to a banquet and a party with a live country music band.
Ralf, who has previously commented publicly on Corinna’s unshakeable desire to keep her husband’s condition out of the spotlight, was in attendance with Etienne.
Michael Schumacher, left, pictured alongside his brother Ralf in 2006. Both were close before the accident
The former F1 driver, 49, announced on social media last month that he is in a same-sex relationship with his French business manager Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne (pictured together)
Ralf Schumacher pictured together with his ex-wife Cora Schumacher. They were married for 14 years
The pair also attended a pre-party at upmarket Mhares Sea Club south of the island capital Palma on Friday afternoon, suggesting they were very welcome wedding guests.
Bild claims that the family did not want anyone taking unauthorised photos of the property’s private rooms, but also reported that it is ‘very likely’ that seven-time world champion Schumacher was present.
Horse enthusiasts Gina and Iain went official with their relationship nearly seven years ago. They first stepped out at an awards ceremony in Munich in December 2017.
Both Corinna and Gina have maintained a strong connection to Michael since his accident.
In 2021, speaking in a Netflix documentary – Schumacher – an emotional Corinna teared up as she spoke about his tragic skiing accident that left him with a near-fatal brain injury.
She had broken her eight-year silence about the accident in December 2013, saying that she, her two children and Michael’s family, ‘miss him everyday’.
She says that Michael is ‘different’ since his injury, and revealed that during his racing days she had always believed that ‘guardian angels’ were watching over her husband.
‘I miss Michael every day. But it’s not just me who misses him. It’s the children, the family, his father, everyone around him.
‘Everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here – different, but here. He still shows me how strong he is every day.’
‘I have never blamed God for what happened. It was just really bad luck – all the bad luck anyone can have in life.
‘It’s always terrible when you say, ‘Why is this happening to Michael or us?’ But then why does it happen to other people?’
Holding back tears, Corinna continued: ‘Of course, I miss Michael every day. But it’s not just me who misses him. It’s the children, the family, his father, everyone around him.
‘I mean, everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here. Different, but he’s here and that gives us strength, I find.
She also revealed in the documentary that Schumacher had complained about the snow conditions in the Alps and suggested flying to Dubai shortly before the tragic skiing accident.
Corinna said: ‘Shortly before it happened in Meribel, he said to me, ‘The snow isn’t optimal. We could fly to Dubai and go skydiving there’.
It was one of the last things the father-of-two said to his wife before he collided with a rock while skiing with his son Mick, then 14. The champion driver suffered a catastrophic brain injury that left him in coma for six months.
Since then, Michael has been cared for privately at his Swiss home by Lake Geneva and the family have kept details about his health tightly guarded.
‘We’d always made it through his races safely,’ she said. ‘Which is why I was certain he had a few guardian angels that were keeping an eye out for him.
‘I don’t know if it’s just a kind of protective wall that you put up yourself or if it’s because you’re in a way naïve – but it simply never occurred to me that anything could ever happen to Michael.
‘I never blamed God for why this happened now. It (the accident) was just really bad luck – all the bad luck anyone could ever have in their life.’
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