Michael Schumacher's wife 'like a prisoner' as sad details come to light
The stricken F1 legend's former team boss has opened up on how wife Corinna lives her life.
Michael Schumacher's former team boss Eddie Jordan has revealed the stricken F1 legend's wife Corinna lives "like a prisoner" as she fights to maintain his privacy. Widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in F1 history, Schumacher suffered catastrophic head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013.
Not much has been made public in the way of his condition in the 10 years that have followed, with wife Corinna refusing to provide updates in order to protect the privacy of her husband and their family. Jordan - who gave Schumacher his first drive in F1 at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1991 - has now spoken out about Corinna and how she lives her life.
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“This was the most horrific situation for (son) Mick and Corinna,” Jordan told The Sun. “It’s been nearly 10 years now and Corinna has not been able to go to a party, to lunch or this or that. She’s like a prisoner because everyone would want to talk to her about Michael when she doesn’t need reminding of it every minute.”
Corinna has imposed a strict 'family only' rule in terms of the people who are allowed to visit her husband. In an interview with sports betting firm OLBG last month, Jordan revealed how Schumacher's son Mick reached out to him and provided new details about his father's condition.
Jordan said he was previously denied by Corrina after asking if he could pay Schumacher a visit, and made the sad revelation that the stricken legend is "there but not there". He said: "I reached out and one stage asked was it appropriate and did I think we should go and visit him.
"The answer was no. No visitations for anyone at that moment except the actual direct family. However, since then, young Mick Schumacher - Michael's son - has reached out to me, and he has been extraordinary.
"It touched me because I felt so much about Michael, I went out of my way to find him, give him his first chance in Spa, didn't last very long but that love for him still lasts and will always do so while I'm able to draw breaths. As far as I'm concerned, I was touched by it. And the reason I was touched by it was because it can't be easy knowing that your father is not able to be part of the family, he's there but he's not there."
Michael Schumacher's wife reveals reasons for secrecy
Speaking publicly for the first time in a Netflix documentary in 2021, Corrina revealed why she wants to keep Schumacher's condition so private. "'Private is private’, as he always said. It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible,” Corinna said.
“Michael always protected us and now we are protecting Michael. What he really didn’t like was the press, the people, all the hype around him. That’s not what he wanted. He wanted to do the sport.
“Michael is very suspicious. He always has been, during the initial period. Until he thinks he knows someone or can trust them, then he opens up completely.”
One person who has not been impressed by the 'family only' rule is Schumacher's former manager Willi Weber. Speaking last year, Weber said: “I tried hundreds of times to contact Corinna and she didn’t answer. I called (former Ferrari boss) Jean Todt to ask him if I should go to the hospital and he told me to wait – it’s too early.
“I called the next day and no one answered. I didn’t expect behaviour like that and I’m still angry about it. They kept me out, telling me it’s too early, well now it’s too late. It’s been nine years. Maybe they should just say it the way it is.
“I could understand the situation initially as I always did everything I could for Michael to protect his private life. But since then we have only heard lies from them. He was like a son to me. Even today it hurts me to talk about it."
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