Michael Schumacher’s former manager has revealed why he was not invited to the wedding of the Formula One legend’s daughter Gina.
Willi Weber, 82, was Schumacher’s manager until 2012 and helped turn the eventual seven-time world champion into one of the highest-earning sports stars ever.
He also managed his brother, Ralf, who raced in F1 for 11 years and won six races.
However, Weber was not even invited to celebrate the marriage of Michael’s daughter, Gina, as she tied the knot at the family’s luxury £27million Majorca holiday villa with long-term boyfriend Iain Bethke.
‘I wasn’t invited, but I wouldn’t have attended the wedding even if I had been invited. My health isn’t good at the moment. I wouldn’t have wanted to fly to Mallorca,’ Weber told German outlet BILD.
Michael Schumacher’s ex-manager Willi Weber was unable to attend the F1 legend’s daughter’s wedding due to his ill health
Weber oversaw Schumacher’s career as he won seven Drivers’ World Championships
Michael Schumacher’s daughter Gina has tied the knot with her boyfriend Iain Bethke
‘I wish her the best of luck. And I hope she has found the right man, that’s always important. It’s a game after all. But I hope everything goes well and that she is happy.’
There is no bad blood between Weber and Schumacher, 55, who has not appeared publicly since suffering a serious head injury while skiing in the French resort of Meribel in 2013.
The German was placed in a medically induced coma and has since been cared for by his wife Corinna and a team of medical staff at the family’s Lake Geneva home, though he is reportedly sometimes flown out to the holiday home in Port d’Andratx, Majorca, which the family bought from Real Madrid president Florentina Perez for £27m in 2017.
‘Michael was one of my best friends, more like a son that I never had,’ said Weber.
‘Nobody knows exactly what’s going on with him today, so I don’t want to comment any further.
‘Since Michael’s accident, I didn’t want to (speak with Gina) either. I have suffered enough from the consequences of his accident. For three years. That’s enough.’
Weber’s health kept him from attending the wedding, though he remains sanguine.
Ralf Schumacher (left), Michael’s brother, and his partner Etienne Bosquet-Cassagne (right) were reportedly among the guests for the ceremony
Updates on the health of the Ferrari legend have been few and far between in recent years
‘I always say it could be better, but it could also be worse. It’s okay. I’m still alive, I can walk, eat and drink.
‘What more could you want? But life is beautiful. You just have to spend it with the right people.’
BILD has claimed that it is ‘very likely’ Michael was at his daughter’s wedding despite his health.
The German outlet also reports that guests had their phones confiscated because the family did not want anyone taking unauthorised photos of the property’s private rooms.
Guests are said to have included Michael’s brother Ralf and his partner Etienne Bosquet-Cassagne, who have been embroiled in a row with the former’s ex-wife Cora over her claims she felt ‘stabbed in the heart’ after finding out he was gay.
The villa has a landing pad and he is regularly flown from to the villa in Port d’Andratx from the family home by Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
It is part of a 15,000 square metre estate which boasts two swimming pools, a helipad, a gym and a huge palm-tree-fringed garden.
On Friday night, a bachelorette party was held for Gina, a successful equestrian, at upmarket Mhares Sea Club south of the island capital Palma before the wedding ceremony on Saturday at the Villa Yasmin.
The Schumacher family did not want any photos being leaked of the inside of their luxury Villa in Majorca
German outlet BILD claims it was ‘very likely’ that F1 legend Schumacher was present
The ceremony lasted around half an hour according to respected Majorcan daily Ultima Hora and they said ‘I do’ by 4pm.
There was reportedly a banquet with a live performance from a country music band, although no figure is given for the number of guests.