December 29th marks the tenth anniversary of Formula 1 record world champion Michael Schumacher’s dramatic skiing accident. In an emotional interview, his younger brother Ralf Schumacher also spoke about his thoughts and the deep turning point in the lives of the entire racing family.
On December 29, 2013, the devastating accident occurred in the French Alps near Meribel. Michael Schumacher fell while skiing and suffered serious head injuries. The family still fights every day for the health of the now 54-year-old. The family around his wife Corinna and their two children Mick and Gina generally withhold information about his specific condition.
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the skiing accident, his brother Ralf Schumacher, who is seven years younger, spoke about his emotions. In an interview with “Bild”, the former racing driver and current TV expert revealed: “I miss my Michael from back then. Life is sometimes unfair. Michael had often been lucky in his life, but then this tragic accident happened. Thank God “Thanks to modern medical options, a lot could be done, but nothing is the same as it used to be.”
A rare and deep insight into the mental life of Ralf Schumacher, who competed in Formula 1 with his older brother for a total of nine years.
Ralf Schumacher won six Formula 1 races
“I can say for myself that his accident was a very bad and drastic experience for me too. But not just for me, for example also for Michael’s children: Mick, as we all know, was there as a young teenager at the time,” said the six-time Grand Prix winner continued in the newspaper interview.
Ralf Schumacher once again explained how important his big brother was for his own development as a young racing driver: “Michael is not only my brother, but at a young age he was also my coach and mentor. He simply gave me everything in karting “We’re seven years apart in age, but he was always by my side back then.”
Ralf Schumacher about Michael: “He gave me everything”
Six years after Michael Schumacher, Ralf also made the jump to Formula 1. Between 1997 and 2007 he drove for three different racing teams. In 2001 and 2002 he reached fourth place in the drivers’ standings in his most successful years.
The most successful pair of brothers in motorsport history made their beginnings together on the local go-kart track in Kerpen. Childhood memories that are still extremely special for Ralf Schumacher today: “We drove karts together, practiced overtaking, all those things that are important in motorsport. He gave me all the experience he had in the previous seven years , given. I was simply allowed to learn from the best. […] Even today it’s still unbelievable what came out of these circumstances.”
Ralf Schumacher has been working as a TV expert for the pay TV channel “Sky” since 2019.