Son in F1, blackmail and selling off assets: what happened 11 years after Schumacher’s accident?

Son in F1, blackmail and selling off assets: what happened 11 years after Schumacher’s accident?


The former German racer suffered a serious skiing accident on December 29, 2013



The life of Michael Schumacher changed forever over the course of the day December 29, 2013. Exactly 11 years ago, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion suffered a serious skiing accident at Meribel station in the French Alps. Since then, little is known about the life of one of the greatest pilots in history.

One of the latest information about the health status of the motor sports idol was published in 2019. In September of the same year, the newspaper Le Parisien revealed that Schumi had been admitted to a hospital in France for an alleged stem cell treatment.

A lot of speculation has been created since then. This year the newspaper Image raised the possibility that the former German runner was “most likely” at his daughter’s wedding, an event reserved for the equestrian athlete’s closest friends, on the island of Mallorca, Spain.

Schumacher’s possible presence at the party had been imagined due to restrictions on cell phone use. The measure was taken to prevent images of the event from leaking.



Michael Schumacher reportedly went to his daughter's wedding

Sale of former pilot’s assets

Since 2013, the family has supported the costs of maintaining Schumacher’s treatment. Although the former pilot has amassed a fortune throughout his career, the investment is not small so that he can continue to lead the best life within his possible limits.

Therefore, in recent years, some of the German’s assets have been sold and auctioned. In May this year, eight luxury watches were sold for $4.25 million (R$26.1 million).

In 2015, Schumacher’s wife Corinna sold the family vacation home in Norway. She also got rid of the couple’s private jet. Sales generated approximately £25 million (R$192.3 million, at current exchange rates).

In 2021, the ex-racer’s wife sold a villa in the city of Gland, Switzerland, for 58.7 million euros (about R$374.3 million).

In parallel with sales, there is also room for new acquisitions. In 2018, the pilot’s family purchased a villa in Mallorca, Spain, for £27 million (around R$207.6 million, at current prices). There is little information about the location, but, according to the press, there are reports that the house was equipped with a mini-hospital to make the pilot comfortable. In 2022, he also acquired land in the same city, for 2.4 million pounds (R$18.4 million), to expand the mansion.

Blackmail and police case

Schumacher’s name has been in the news recently due to the disappearance of a hard drive containing possible personal information about the former driver. According to the British newspaper Daily Mailthe German’s former trusted bodyguard, Markus Fritsche, 53, is accused of orchestrating an extortion attempt against the materials.

The suspect appeared at the Wuppertal District Court accompanied by two alleged accomplices: his friend Yilmaz Tozturkan, also 53, and Daniel Lins, 30, Tozturkan’s son.

Investigations indicate participation in a 12 million euro blackmail plan against the Schumacher family. If found guilty, the defendant could be sentenced to up to four years in prison.




The HD with Schumacher's images disappears and worries the former driver's family, the newspaper writes

Who can see Schumacher?

Given the mysteries surrounding the hospitalization of the multiple Formula 1 champion, there is no official information on who will be able to visit Schumacher. According to the Spanish portal GP Bloghowever, there is a small “inner circle” of people who can see it.

Teammate of the German at Ferrari in 2006, Felipe Massa would be one of those people who enjoys the trust of the family. The Brazilian, however, keeps himself informed through Jean Todt, former head of the Maranello team and one of the most frequent visitors to the house.

“I know how he is thanks to other people like Jean Todt, who is someone who always stays at Schumacher’s house and has a very good relationship with the family,” he said recently CNN.

Even names such as Luca Badoer, Ferrari test driver during Schumacher’s time, and Sabine Kehm, family advisor, are allowed to visit him, according to information from the Spanish portal.

Son who followed in his father’s footsteps

No one knows how much Schumacher follows his son’s career, but one thing is certain: his father has reason to be proud. Mick, in fact, did not find himself in Formula 1. In two seasons with Haas (2021 and 2022), he scored points in just two races and had accidents, which led the team to release him for 2023.

In the following years it remained as a reserve for Mercedes. For 2025, Bottas has taken his place in the Brackley team and Mick will have to continue his career focusing solely on the World Endurance Championship (WEC) for Alpine.

Schumacher’s son, however, has accumulated some titles in the so-called “basic categories” of motorsport. In 2018 he won the European Formula 3 Championship with Prema Racing. In the same team he won the Formula 2 trophy in 2020.

How is the rest of the Schumacher family?

Other family members besides Mick remain in the spotlight. Daughter Gina-Maria Schumacher, 27, has become an equestrian athlete and recently made headlines when she married Iain Bethke.

Also in the spotlight is Corinna Schumacher. The ex-pilot’s wife is responsible for keeping the German’s health a mystery. During his time in F1, Mick often followed his children paddock all over the world.

And there is Ralf Schumacher, brother of Michael, the less fortunate former driver of the family, who recently announced a homosexual relationship with Etienne Bosquet-Cassagne



Ralf Schumacher and his partner Etienne

Schumacher’s career numbers

For many, Schumacher is the best and greatest driver in the history of Formula 1. In the 19 full seasons in which he competed, the German won seven titles (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004), a record which remains to this day, shared with Lewis Hamilton, who continues to compete.

Although his racing style was sometimes questioned by his competitors, Schumacher recorded 91 victories, 68 polar positions and 155 podiums in 306 starts. He is second in the list of record holders in the three segments. Only Hamilton has better numbers than the German.

His Formula 1 history also includes stints with Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes. However, the German defended the bottom team in the final stretch of his career after a three-season hiatus, when he was dropped from the category in 2007, 2008 and 2009.



Michael Schumacher in the center of the photo at the 1994 Brazilian GP, ​​when he won the race for Benetton. Also on the podium were Damon Hill, of Williams, and Jean Alesi, of Ferrari.

Source: Terra

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