Michael Schumacher’s trusted ally prevented from seeing F1 icon at daughter’s wedding

Friends and family members were invited to the Schumacher’s Majorcan villa to see Gina-Maria Schumacher marry husband Iain Bethke, with the F1 legend “very likely” in attendance

Michael Schumacher’s former right-hand man Willi Weber said he “wasn’t invited” to the racing icon’s daughter’s wedding.

Last weekend, Gina-Maria Schumacher, 27, tied the knot with her new husband Iain Bethke in a private affair held at the Schumacher family’s £27million Majorcan villa. Friends and family were invited, including Gina-Maria’s uncle Ralf Schumacher who has been estranged in the past.

One notable absentee was Weber, who for many years served as Schumacher’s manager during his racing days. Now 82, he was instrumental in shaping the career of the seven-time Formula 1 champion until his final retirement in 2012.

But Weber is not part of the close inner circle kept by Schumacher’s wife Corinna, who has fiercely guarded his privacy for many years. Since the former Ferrari racer suffered life-changing injuries in a skiing accident in December 2013, only a select few people have been allowed to visit him.

Weber was not on the family’s guest list for Gina-Maria’s wedding. And, as he confirmed that to German new outlet Bild, he explained why he would not have made the trip anyway, even if he was permitted to attend.

He said: “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 Majorca. I wish her the best of luck and I hope she has found the right man, that’s always important.”

There’s uncertainty over whether seven-time F1 champion Michael was present at the wedding, though Bild reported that it was “very likely” he was there. Information about the 55-year-old’s health has been scant since his accident, but it is known that he receives round-the-clock care.

While his primary caregivers are his wife Corinna and a medical team at their home near Lake Geneva, he has previously been flown to the family’s holiday villa in Majorca. The Schumachers also own a ranch in Texas.

Weber had a close bond with the former Ferrari and Mercedes racer during their years of collaboration. He described Schumacher as “one of my best friends” and “more like a son that I never had”, when he told the Cologne Express last year: “When I think of Michael now, unfortunately I don’t have anymore hope that I will see him again. No positive news after 10 years.

“Of course, I regret that very much and blame myself. I should have visited Michael in the hospital. I mourned like a dog after his accident. It hit me incredibly hard, you can imagine that. But at some point, the point came when I had to free myself from Michael and let go.”