Michael Schumacher’s former manager doubts he will ever see the seven-time world champion again.
Willi Weber, now 82, was Schumacher’s manager when the German entered Formula 1 in 1991. They were inseparable throughout Schumacher’s Grand Prix career and only fell out in 2010 before the driver’s return to F1 with Mercedes.
"I have had no contact with the family for over ten years," Weber confirmed to the Bild newspaper, which was asked if he had attended the wedding of Schumacher’s daughter Gina-Maria over the weekend.
“I barely remember what happened. I wasn’t invited to the wedding but I wouldn’t have gone anyway because my health is not good at the moment. I don’t wouldn’t have wanted to fly to Majorca.”
But Weber said the numerous media reports about the wedding, including reports that Schumacher, now 55, attended, upset him.
“Michael was one of my best friends. More like a son I never had. No one knows exactly what happens to him now, so I don’t want to comment further.”
Indeed, Schumacher has not been seen or heard from in public since suffering brain damage in a skiing accident in 2013.
Wedding attendees had to hand over their smartphones, but it is believed Schumacher himself was not in the garden of the family holiday home. Inside the house, Flavio Briatore’s ex-wife, Elisabetta Gregoraci, claims that Schumacher’s wife, Corinna, “set up a hospital”.
“Gina’s wedding brings back memories. Unfortunately!” continued Weber.
“I think about my successes with Michael – our goals and our victories. I remember Michael as he was. And we will probably never see each other again.”
Weber believes Corinna was injured because he did not immediately rush to France while Schumacher, then newly retired from Formula 1, was initially hospitalized for his serious head injuries.
“It’s my fault for not visiting Michael after the accident and supporting him. Because I thought the media reports were exaggerated.”
“I thought it would be better to wait a few days and everything would be fine. But it was too late. For a long time, I blamed myself for not having reacted immediately. That’s probably why Corinna told me has moved away from the authorized circle.”
“Since then, I have said goodbye to Michael in my heart in order to find peace.”
