‘Michael Schumacher was my best friend

‘Michael Schumacher was my best friend – I’ve refused to see him since accident’ says…read more

Willi Weber, the former manager and close friend of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, has shared that he has not seen the legendary driver since his devastating skiing accident in 2013. In a candid interview with German newspaper BILD, Weber revealed that it is unlikely he will ever see Schumacher again.

Schumacher, who suffered a severe brain injury while skiing in the French Alps, has remained out of the public eye ever since. Following the accident, he was placed in an artificial coma and spent months in Grenoble Hospital. He was eventually removed from the coma and released in 2014, but little information has surfaced regarding his condition since then.

His care has been overseen by his wife, Corinna, at their family home in Switzerland. Access to Schumacher has been extremely limited, with only a few close family members and trusted individuals allowed to visit him. Updates on his health have been rare, as the family has maintained strict privacy around his situation.

Recent reports, however, have suggested that Schumacher may have made a rare appearance at a significant family event. According to BILD, it is “very likely” that Schumacher attended the wedding of his daughter, Gina Schumacher, who married her longtime partner Iain Bethke in a private ceremony at the family’s villa in Mallorca. The event was shrouded in secrecy, with guests reportedly required to surrender their mobile phones to ensure privacy. Schumacher’s brother, Ralf Schumacher, and his new partner, Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne, were also reportedly present.

Despite the possible presence of the seven-time world champion at the wedding, his former manager Weber was not in attendance. Weber, who is now 82 years old, has had no contact with Schumacher or his family for over a decade. In the interview, Weber expressed his sadness over the situation, stating that he has “barely any memories” of what transpired after the accident. He was not invited to the wedding, but he noted that even if he had been, he would not have been able to attend due to health issues that prevented him from flying to Mallorca.

Weber spoke emotionally about his close relationship with Schumacher, describing the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver as “more like a son” to him. He also confessed that he harbors guilt over not visiting Schumacher immediately after the accident. Weber explained that at the time, he believed the media reports about Schumacher’s condition were exaggerated, and he assumed his friend would recover. “I thought I’d better wait a few days and then everything would be fine,” Weber said. “But it was too late.”

This decision has weighed heavily on Weber, who admitted that he spent years blaming himself for not being there for Schumacher during such a critical moment. He shared that, in order to find peace, he has had to come to terms with the fact that he may never see Schumacher again. “Since then, I’ve said goodbye to Michael in my heart in order to find my peace again,” Weber concluded, hinting at the deep emotional toll Schumacher’s condition has taken on those closest to him.