Michael Schumacher's daugher Gina with husband Iain Bethke

Inside Michael Schumacher's £27m villa where F1 legend 'attended daughter's wedding'

The health of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher has largely been kept private since he suffered serious injuries during a skiing trip with his family in 2013

02 Oct 2024, 09:45 by Tom Victor, https://www.facebook.com/tomvictorjournalist · Irish Mirror

Michael Schumacher's daughter Gina married her partner Iain Bethke at the end of September, with the ceremony taking place at the family's villa in Majorca.

Formula 1 legend Schumacher, 55, was reportedly seen in public for the first time in more than a decade at the wedding. His family have protected his privacy since he suffered a serious head injury following a skiing accident in 2013.

The seven-time world champion returned to his home in Switzerland after receiving life-saving surgeries in the aftermath of the accident. More recently, though, Schumacher's wife Corinna purchased the property in the Balearics.

The Schumachers' Majorcan villa was reportedly purchased for £27m back in 2017. Its previous owner was Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid president, who sold the property following the 2012 death of his wife Maria Angeles Sandoval.

The villa is located in Pont d'Andratx, on the south west coast of Majorca. The area is home to a number of hotels and designer stores, with plenty of celebrities to be found on the beach or the main strip.

In 2018, authorities from the town moved to clarify comments made by mayor Katia Rouarch about Michael Schumacher himself relocating to Pont d'Andratx. Reports at the time in the German media had indicated Corinna bought the property with a view to taking holidays there, rather than planning to immediately relocate.

"The only thing that Rouarch declared to the journalists was that, 'in case the family decides to move here, we will be prepared for their arrival," a statement given to Autosport in 2018 read. "In this case they would be treated as any other citizen of Andratx."

The statement continued: "With this communication we want to reiterate these words were meant just in case the family come here. Obviously, in that case, Michael Schumacher and his family would be welcomed in our municipality."

The Schumacher family's villa in Pont d'Andratx, Majorca(Image: SOLARPIX.COM)

The property includes a helipad and two swimming pools, as well as on-site medical facilities. Those staying at the villa are able to enjoy sea views, while Die Bunte reported in 2022 that the Schumacher family had purchased a surrounding plot of land for approximately £2.3m.

In 2020, Elisabetta Gregoraci, the ex-wife of former Benetton F1 chief Flavio Briatore, claimed Michael had been spending more time at the Majorca home. "Michael doesn't speak, he communicates with his eyes," Gregoraci said on Italy's version of Big Brother.

"Only three people can visit him and I know who they are. They moved to Spain and his wife has set up a hospital in that house."

Corinna Schumacher is understood to have bought the property in 2017(Image: Getty Images)

In a 2021 Netflix documentary, Corinna Schumacher spoke about her husband, "I miss Michael every day. But it's not just me who misses him. It's the children, the family, his father, everyone around him. Everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here - different, but here. He still shows me how strong he is every day," she said.

"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. 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."

Michael Schumacher suffered serious injuries in a skiing accident in 2013(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Only trusted friends and relatives had been allowed to visit Michael since his 2013 accident. While reports indicate more people were permitted to see the former Ferrari and Benetton star at Gina's wedding, attendees were asked to leave mobile phones at the door.

Schumacher's son Mick could also be set to tie the knot soon. The 25-year-old's partner Laila Hasanovic hinted at an engagement in a social media post in late September.

Mick is currently a reserve driver for the Mercedes Formula 1 team, having previously raced for Haas. He has also been racing for Alpine in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship.

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