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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Robert Hynes

Inside Michael Schumacher's relationship with wife Corinna as son Mick continues to struggle in Formula 1

Michael Schumacher has been married to his wife Corinna for almost 27 years.

The couple will celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary this August, with it now being eight years since the Formula 1 legend was released from a hospital in Grenoble after suffering life-changing injuries in a skiing accident.

Corinna had her life changed immeasurably the day her husband suffered the head injury that left him in a medically induced coma.

He hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste on the French Alps in December, 2013, with his son Mick, who was just 14 at the time.

Schumacher, 52, was airlifted to hospital and had to undergo two surgeries as he was placed in a medically induced coma for six months to help reduce the swelling of his brain.

He was eventually moved to another hospital after coming out of his coma in 2014 and after 250 days was allowed to return to his Lake Geneva home.

Since the pair married in 1995, Corinna had been forced to adapt to the pace of life enforced by the whirlwind career of the record seven-time world champion.

His 2013 accident, and the months of trauma that followed with doctors unsure whether he would ever regain consciousness, turned her from a wife and companion into the principal executor of Schumacher's vast fortune and estate, including his varied business interests.

Michael Schumacher and wife Corinna at a winter resort in northern Italy in 2005. (AFP/Getty Images)

Horseriding champion Corinna has since juggled that responsibility with the rather more critical matter of overseeing her husband's medical care.

Their mansion in the Swiss town of Gland on the shores of Lake Geneva was adapted shortly after Schumacher's accident to help accommodate his care needs, with Corinna overseeing the renovations to ensure her husband could return from hospital in Lausanne where he had been receiving care.

"When it became clear that the old Schumi perhaps never would return, Corinna had to accept her new life. She had to act," the German magazine Bunte reported in 2015.

"She took over the job, and the power, of her husband as an act of succession. Corinna underwent a remarkable transformation - from his wife to the clan chief, a lady who trained as a sales clerk to the manager of a multi-millions company."

She also took the decision to sell off Schumacher's €30million private jet and their holiday home in Norway in 2015, having realised they were unlikely to ever use them again.

Corinna also considered selling the family's ski chalet in the French resort of Meribel - near to where Michael's horrific accident happened.

According to Corinna, updates on the F1 star's condition have been few and far between at her husband's own request.

But there has been confirmation that Schumacher is still receiving treatment in the hope that he can one day return to a more normal life.

Jean Todt previously told Ouest France: "I am very discreet on this subject. We all know that Michael had a very serious accident and, unfortunately, it had significant consequences for him.

"Since then, he has been treated so that he can be able to return to a more normal life."

While Schumacher continues on the road to recovery, only select people are allowed to see him.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Luca Badoer, a former colleague of Schumacher's at Ferrari, said only his wife chooses who is allowed to visit.

He said: “Only a few people are allowed to visit Schumacher.

"His wife Corinna decides who is allowed to see him.”

According to Schumacher’s former manager Willi Weber, Corinna has denied requests of a visit.

Speaking on an RTL special commemorating his maiden title win 25 years ago, he said: “I know that Michael has been badly hurt, but unfortunately not what progress he makes in rehab.

"I'd like to know how he's doing and shake hands or stroke his face. But unfortunately this is rejected by Corinna.

“She probably fears that I will immediately recognise what is going on and make the truth public.”

A Netflix film released last year took a behind-the-scenes look at Schumacher's life and career, with the blessing of his family.

The documentary, created by German filmmakers Michael Wech and Hanns-Bruno Kammertons, included contributions from Schumacher's wife Corinna, his father Rolf, son Mick and daughter Gina-Maria.

"The film portrays Michael's impressive career, but also many of the facets of the complex man," Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm said.

"The merciless and daring Formula 1 driver, the ambitious athlete, the accomplished mechanic with a unique technical flair, the reliable team player and loving family man."

Schumacher's legacy behind the wheel is now being continued by Mick, who is in his second F1 season with Haas.

Mick Schumacher and his mother Corinna (Gisela Schober/Getty Images)

Discussing following in his dad's footsteps, Mick told Bild : "I'm OK with that; all the questions and comparisons with my father do not bother me.

"For me, he is the all-time best in this sport, to which he has given his all. I don't see why I should disregard that."

But it has been a challenging season for the 23-year-old, who remains pointless after two major crashes, which left the American team facing multiple million-dollar repairs.

He also collided with compatriot Sebastian Vettel at the inaugural Miami Grand Prix.

And Haas F1 boss Gunther Steiner has told Mick that he cannot continue to crash.

Mick Schumacher (Getty Images)

He said: “I think he knows that it is not good for the team to crash. If I would have had to explain that to him then he shouldn't be here, he knows the damage.

“We [have] passed [the team's crash budget]. We passed that in Jeddah. We are beyond the allowance for crashes. We need to try to make savings somewhere else.

“It’s just not possible to continue like this, and he knows this. Even for him, crashing into a wall is not healthy, at some stage. He wants to score points; if you do that you don't score points.”

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