David Schumacher has spoken out to defend his father, Ralf, as his feud with his ex-wife Cora rumbles on.
The pair have been embroiled in a messy split and a public war of words after Ralf – a former F1 driver – came out as gay and announced he was in fact in love with his French business manager Étienne Bousquet-Cassagne in July this year.
The public announcement began the public spat between Ralf and his former wife Cora, who said she had “wasted her best years” on him.
Now the pair’s son, David, has waded into the debate – speaking on a now-deleted Instagram story to defend his dad.
He wrote: “Normally I wouldn't want to talk about family matters in public because these topics have no business being talked about online.
“Unfortunately my mother seems to be looking at this differently. It is now time to put an end to it: I just want to live my life in peace, [and] reach my goals without being asked about all the things my mother accuses me and my dad of.”
He added his mother had suffered from “mental problems” for “as long as I can remember”, adding: “When my parents divorced in 2015, my mother threatened me that if I didn't live with her, she would destroy my life's dream, meaning my dream of being a racing driver would be destroyed because, due to the custody of both parents, she would no longer sign the necessary documents.”
But what do we know about Ralf? Read on for more.
Who is Ralf Schumacher?
Ralf Schumacher is a 49-year-old German former racing driver. He is the younger brother of seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher, and the pair are the only siblings to have both won Formula One races.
His love for racing began at the age of three in the form of karting and he first raced in Formula One in the 1997 season. He was part of the Williams team and won his first Grand Prix in 2001 and then five more races over two years.
Schumacher left the Williams team at the end of 2004 and joined Toyota Racing in 2005 but left Formula One as a result of internal pressure in 2007.
He retired from motorsport at the end of 2012 to mentor young drivers and now works as a co-commentator for Sky Sports in Germany.
Who was Ralf Schumacher married to?
Cora Schumacher had been married to Ralf for 14 years. They split in 2015 and have been embroiled in a public spat since he came out in July.
Cora has accused Ralf of “lying” in interviews and has said he “wasted” her best years during their marriage.
When did Ralf Schumacher come out as gay?
This summer Ralf came out as gay via his social media pages, becoming the most high-profile driver in the sport’s history to do so.
He made the announcement on Instagram in July with a picture of himself and his French business manager, Étienne, watching a sunset with their arms around one another. “The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.”
Schumacher did not make any explicit statement but confirmation came from comments made by his friend, the German actor Carmen Geiss, on her post. “I want to tell you about a person who plays a very special role in my life. For many years I have known and love him infinitely.
“Today he confessed his homosexuality. This step was an act of liberation and self-acceptance for him. It was a courageous decision that has matured in him for a long time and one he is now full of pride and confidence.”
Who are Ralf Schumacher’s brothers?
Ralf is the younger brother of F1 great Michael Schumacher and has a half-brother, Sebastian Stahl, 46, who also races.
Michael suffered a tragic accident in December 2013 that changed his life forever. The racing legend, who retired from motorsport in 2012, veered off track and hit a rock while skiing at the Méribel resort in the French Alps with his son Mick. Although he was wearing a helmet, the impact was strong enough to cause severe brain injuries.
He was placed in an induced coma to reduce brain swelling and control neurological damage where he remained for six months.
Although Michael’s health has remained strictly private since then, reports indicate that he has undergone multiple medical interventions and surgeries to improve his quality of life.
The family are private about his health but the brothers were known to be close.
Speaking with German magazine Bunte, Ralf said: "Unfortunately, sometimes life isn't fair. We have to accept it. When I see his children Gina-Maria and Mick, my heart smiles. If someone in the family is looking for my advice, I'm there. They go their own way.”
He added: "I miss the Michael of the old days. Life is unfair from time to time. Michael was very lucky throughout his life. But then there was this tragic accident. Michael wasn't only my brother. When we were kids, he was also my coach and mentor. He taught me literally everything about kart racing."
