Gina-Maria Schumacher has shared a poignant tribute to her father, Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, on what would have been his 57th birthday. The heartfelt post comes just over twelve years after the horrific skiing accident that led to his withdrawal from public life.
A Private Family's Public Gesture
While the Schumacher family has maintained a strict and fiercely guarded code of privacy regarding Michael's condition since he left hospital in September 2014, his children have occasionally offered glimpses of their enduring love. On January 3rd, equestrian Gina-Maria, 28, honoured her father by posting a sweet childhood photograph on social media.
The image shows a young Gina-Maria posing with her father, her brother Mick, and her mother Corinna. She captioned the nostalgic snap: 'The best forever. Happy birthday, Dad!' accompanied by a red heart emoji. She also shared the post to her Instagram Story with another solitary heart symbol.
Life Moving Forward Amid Secrecy
Now based primarily in the United States, where she competes and breeds horses at the family ranch in Gordonville, Texas, Gina-Maria's life has continued. Last year, she and her husband Iain Bethke welcomed their first child, a daughter named Millie, born on March 29th. The couple had married in September 2024 at the Schumacher family's luxury villa in Majorca, purchased for £27 million in 2017.
This tender birthday tribute arrives shortly after a close friend from Schumacher's racing days shed more light on the extreme measures taken to protect his privacy. Former Red Bull Head of Operations Richard Hopkins explained last week that only a very small, trusted circle of people are permitted to visit.
Hopkins denied that Schumacher is under intense daily security, stating he was sure the seven-time world champion was 'not behind armed guards at his bedroom door'. However, he confirmed, 'there are fairly strict rules, and we don't talk about those rules.'
The Fight Against Intrusion and Blackmail
The family's strict guidelines have been enforced as a necessary defence against multiple intrusions. They have faced several attempts by medical staff and employees to leak details, and were even victims of a blackmail plot threatening to release private health information in 2025.
This led to a trial involving three men, including Schumacher's former bodyguard Markus Fritsche. They were accused of stealing hard drives containing confidential pictures, videos, and medical records. In February, nightclub bouncer Yilmaz Tozturkan was sentenced to three years in prison but is free on €10,000 bail, while IT expert Daniel Lins received a six-month suspended sentence. Fritsche, who denied involvement, was given a two-year suspended sentence.
Through it all, the Schumacher family—Corinna, Mick, and Gina-Maria—have remained a close-knit unit, united in their discretion and their unwavering devotion to the racing icon they call husband and father.
