Ralf Schumacher has criticized a political decision to deny his famous brother Michael honorary citizenship in a city synonymous with his career.
The Schumacher brothers were born in Hurth, but their personal connection with the neighboring town of Kerpen is well known. This is where they got their start in karting and their father Rolf Schumacher was manager of the local circuit.
Additionally, after achieving global fame as a seven-time world champion, Michael Schumacher and his family provided support to the Kerpen karting community and helped keep the circuit operating until its closure in 2020.
Nevertheless, the Kerpen city council voted against a motion to make Michael Schumacher, now 55 and still recovering from brain damage, an honorary citizen of the city.
"This is typical of Germany and our politics," said Ralf Schumacher.
“When you think about what my brother has done for Kerpen with his success, I simply have no words.”
The president of the Michael Schumacher fan club, Reiner Ferling, agreed: “The way Michael is being treated as a person is disgusting. I'm really angry.”
“The city can't even bring itself to make someone an honorary citizen who won seven world championship titles for us?”
This isn't the first time Ferling has requested this honor, but it could be the last.
“After everything that has happened, I can no longer imagine that the Schumacher family even wants Michael to become an honorary citizen.”
On the other hand, Maranello in Italy and Spa in Belgium made Schumacher honorary citizens in 2006 and 2019 respectively.
Kerpen city councilor Andreas Lipp said when asked why they voted against the motion: “This currently makes no sense.”
“We just have other projects to work on.”
