Explainers

MICHAEL Schumacher is a Formula One great and seven-time World Champion.The racing legend has been surrounded by his close-knit family throughout his glittering career and in the years following the tragic skiing accident he suffered in 2013 — here we get to know his wife Corrina and their kids. Corinna has been by Michael Schumacher’s side since 1991Who is Corinna Schumacher?Born Corinna Betsch in Halver in the former West Germany on March 2, 1969, Michael’s wife is also a sporting champion.She won the European Western-style Horse Riding Championship in 2010.In 2013, Michael told a German TV channel that he and his wife had never had a serious fight.He said: “It’s because we share the same values. During all the time I was racing she was my guardian angel.”Michael and Corrina’s weddingThe couple met in 1991 through a mutual friend.They married in August 1995 in Germany and the couple live in Switzerland.In the 2021 Netflix documentary Schumacher, Corrine said of her husband: “At parties, he was the first to arrive and the last to leave.“He loved it… We laughed so much and had so much real fun.MOST READ IN SPORT“We all ended up in the pool every time, that was Michael’s thing. Even at our wedding people were thrown into the pool!Corrine and Michael own horse ranches in Texas and Switzerland — the latter was gifted to her by Michael on their 10th wedding anniversary and is located in Givrins.Inside Michael Schumacher’s decade-long recovery from ‘desperately cruel’ ski crash as brother shares devastating updateHorrific accidentSince Michael’s skiing accident in 2013, Corinna has been fiercely protective of her husband’s privacy.She spearheads his round-the-clock care at their family home on Lake Geneva, Switzerland.Corinna has allowed only a select few close friends and relatives to visit Michael, maintaining strict conditions for these visits.The F1 legend was put in a medically induced coma after a fall in the French Alps in December 2013.How many children do they have?Michael and Corrina have two kids together.Corinna gave birth to their first child, Gina-Maria, in 1997 with Mick following two years later.Gina-Marie Gina-Maria with her husband Iain BethkeGina-Maria is Michael and Corinna’s eldest child, born on February 20, 1997.Like her mother before her, Gina-Maria is a successful equestrian.The 27-year-old has made a name for herself in the world of competitive horse riding, particularly in Western riding disciplines.Her competitive highlights include:August 2024: Won the Non Pro Championship at The Run For A Million in Gordonville, Texas, riding All Right Magnum with a score of 222.April 2024: Captured back-to-back NRBC Non Pro Classic Championships, winning on Gunin Addy Tude.2023: Secured the NRBC Non Pro Championship on Gunnastepya.2021: Earned the Reserve Championship at the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity.2018: Achieved a gold medal at the National Reining Horse Association’s novice Cavalli event.2018: Topped the World Championships for junior riders.2017: Won the FEI World Reining Championships held in Switzerland.In September 2024, Gina-Maria tied the knot with partner Iain Bethke on the sun-soaked Spanish island of Majorca at the luxury abode Corinna is understood to have bought in 2017 from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.She posted a snap to her Instagram showing her and Iain cuddling up, along with the words: “Forever yes to you, yes to forever.”Among the guest list was Corrina, Michael’s brother Ralf and his partner Etienne Bosquet-Cassagne, who also attended a pre-party at upmarket Mhares Sea Club on Friday afternoon.It’s unclear whether Michael attended either event.Mick Mick followed in his father’s footsteps to pursue a career in motorsportCredit: GettyMick, born on March 22, 1999, is Michael and Corinna’s youngest child and only son.Following in his father’s illustrious footsteps, Mick pursued a career in motorsport.He competed in Formula One for the Haas F1 Team during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.However, he lost his seat for the 2023 season and currently serves as a reserve driver for Mercedes and McLaren.Mick started out in karting but then went on to win the Formula 2 Championship in 2020, which saw him earn his seat in Formula One a season later.On August 9, 2018, Mick shared memories of his dad after snapping up his first victory in European Formula 3 at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium – his dad’s favourite track. Mick and Corrina pictured together in 2017Credit: Splash NewsSpeaking about his victory with Mobil 1 The Grid, the young racer said the track brought back happy memories as it was labelled “the living room of my dad”.And before his first race with Haas in Bahrain, Mick told ESPN: “I had the best teacher and I’m happy to have made it all the way now.”I’m happy to be here.”In the Netflix documentary about his father, Mick touchingly said how he would “give up everything” to chat with his dad about their shared motorsport success.He said: “Since the accident, of course, these experiences, these moments that I believe many people have with their parents, are no longer present or to a lesser extent.”And in my view, that is a little unfair. Michael and Corrina pictured after he competed in his 200th Grand Prix in Spain on May 9, 2004Credit: Getty Images – Getty”I think me and dad, we would understand each other in a different way now.”Simply because we speak a similar language – the language of motor sport – and that we would have a lot more to talk about.”And that is where my head is most of the time.”Thinking that would be so cool … I would give up everything just for that.”In an interview with the Independent in March 2022, Mick addressed the perceived burden of being Michael’s son.He said: “I don’t feel that pressure because I don’t pay attention to it, I just blend it out.“I can create my own legacy while still looking back at what my dad did.”It’s nice for me to be able to remind people of what my dad did and at the same time show what I can do.” Michael and Corrine celebrating him winning the 2000 F1 World ChampionshipCredit: GettyWhat Corinna has said about Michael ‘s healthOn the Netflix documentary Corinna spoke about Michael’s condition and how he is living at home with his family.She said: “Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find.”We’re together. We live together at home. We do therapy.”We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable.”And to simply make him feel our family, our bond.”And no matter what, i will do everything I can. We all will. Michael and Corinna having a laugh on the Italian Alps in January 2000Credit: AP:Associated Press”We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael like it and still does.”And we are getting on with our lives.”Corinna admitted that during the accidents, she was “certain he had a few guardian angels that were keeping an eye out for him”.She continued: “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 naive but it simply never occurred to me that anything could ever happen to Michael.”I 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?”Of course, I miss Michael every day. But it’s not just me who misses him.”The children, the family, everyone around him. I mean, everybody misses Michael.” More