Michael Schumacher’s wife has lived ‘like a prisoner’, shunning lunches and parties, to keep his condition secret, according to Eddie Jordan.
Schumacher suffered a skiing accident in December 2013 and was placed into a medically induced coma. He was later moved to the family’s Lake Geneva home in September 2014 where a team of medical staff now support his wife Corinna in looking after him.
Jordan, who is loosely connected to the Ferrari icon, revealed last year that his plans to visit the seven-time Formula One world champion were veteoed by Schumacher’s family.
‘This was the most horrific situation for Mick and Corinna,’ Jordan told The Sun.
‘It’s been nearly ten years now and Corinna has not been able to go to a party, to lunch or this or that, she’s like a prisoner because everyone would want to talk to her about Michael when she doesn’t need reminding of it every minute.’
Eddie Jordan (right) claims Michael Schumacher’s wife Corinna (left) lives ‘like a prisoner’ as she tries to keep the condition of her husband private following a skiing accident in 2013
Corinna (left) and Michael Schumacher (right, pictured together while skiing in 2005)
Schumacher once described his wife, 54, as his ‘guardian angel’ and she has taken total control of blocking out any noise around his condition.
Jordan gave Schumacher his break in F1 in 1991 with Jordan Grand Prix but has not been granted a visit, with access to the former Ferrari star ring-fenced by his wife.
Corinna has shunned speaking publicly about her husband but did shed some light on her struggles in a documentary on his life which aired in 2022.
‘Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find,’ Corinna said.
‘We’re together. We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond.
‘And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will. We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives.
‘”Private is private”, as he always said. It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. ‘Michael always protected us, and now we are protecting Michael.’
One of the few that has been granted visits to Schumacher has been former-FIA president Jean Todt, who revealed in May 2021 that he makes two visits a month to see the German.
In a rare interview for a documentary on Michael’s life, Corinna opened up on her situation
Schumacher (pictured in 2005) hasn’t been in the public eye since suffering a skiing accident in December 2013 – he is now looked after by medical staff and his wife Corinna at home
In a rare discussion on Schumacher, Todt claimed the German is ‘in the best hands’ with the medical team he has working at his home.
Todt told German publication Bild: ‘I’m happy that the fans, not only in Germany, think of him so much.
‘People ask so much about Michael. The fans should know that he is in the best of hands.
‘In the best situation, he can be and surrounded by people who love him.’
Schumacher and Todt have long been close having enjoyed a successful relationship at Ferrari – where the German driver won an unprecedented five consecutive world titles between 2000 and 2004.
It has been revealed that the pair watch Formula One races together when Todt visits.
Last year Todt joined Corinna, and her daughter, Gina, to collect the State Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia in Cologne on behalf of Schumacher.
Schumacher won five straight F1 world titles at Ferrari under Jean Todt from 2000 and 2004
It is the highest civilian honour available to those born within the region and can be awarded to anyone who has made an outstanding contribution to the world.
The ceremony took place in Cologne, around six kilometres from Hurth, where Schumacher and his brother Ralf were born.
Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wust presented the award to a sobbing Mrs Schumacher, and said: ‘Today we pay tribute above all to the person. A person with a big heart and for which it has always been important to think about others.
‘Michael Schumacher also thought of those who are not wealthy. He quietly helped them with extremely generous donations and his family continues this charitable endeavour.’
Schumacher is one of the most successful F1 drivers of all time, having claimed seven world titles – 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.
He also added 71 fastest laps and 155 podiums to his name during his iconic racing career.
His son Mick is now a reserve driver for Mercedes, having been let go from Haas F1 last summer.
Mick Schumacher (left), with his mother Corinna (right) and sister Gina-Maria (middle)
In 2019 the Schumacher family released an update on his 50th birthday assuring his millions of fans they are doing ‘everything humanly possible’ to help him recover.
In 2020 it was claimed he was set to undergo stem cell surgery – only for it to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In September last year Zurich-based neurology specialist Professor Erich Riederer told a documentary for French TV channel TMC he doubted the racing legend would ever fully recover.
He said: ‘I think he’s in a vegetative state, which means he’s awake but not responding. He is breathing, his heart is beating, he can probably sit up and take baby steps with help, but no more.’
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