Last month Ralph Schumacher, brother of seven times Formula One world champion Michael revealed to the world that he was gay. Lewis Hamilton came out in support of his fellow racer in Hungary telling assembled media:

“Clearly he has not felt comfortable being able to say it in the past. It is definitely not a new thing.” Schumacher’s sexuality was known in the paddock during his F1 years (1997-2007) so it was somewhat of a surprise when in 2001 he became engaged to Cora-Caroline Brinkman a former model. They married later that year and had a son David just weeks after they tied the knot.

Following the announcement by Ralph on social media, Cora Schumacher opened up over her ex-husband’s coming out but suggested he’d always denied having feelings towards men.

 

 

 

Ralph known as ‘gay’ when driving

“Of course I spoke to him about it,” she said in a teary interview with Der Spiegel. “These rumours got worse and worse over the years. As a result, I naturally felt more and more torn because I no longer knew whether my head was playing tricks on me. But Ralf was always my most important advisor. I trusted him, blindly. And that’s why his word was my law.”

The pair were divorced in 2015 and Brinkham reveals she was blindsided by Ralph’s social media post and would have preferred had he told her face to face.

“When he announced it, it was like a stab in the heart. Coming out always affects those around you, including the ex-wife with whom you had a child,” Cora continued.

“Today I feel used during the marriage. I feel like I’ve wasted my best years. I ask myself many questions. Was he honest with me?

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“Did he love me?” asks ex-wife

“And there’s something even more important that’s on my mind: did he love me? I trusted him blindly and that’s why his word was law for me.

“I feel compelled to correct my public image, just like Mr Schumacher has the right to come out. Did he think for a moment about the consequences for me?”

Ralph Schumacher has now again taken to social media branding his wife a ‘liar’ and leaking WhatsApp messages to justify his claim. The former F1 driver is clearly upset over the interview Brinkman gave and feels it necessary to put forward his side of the story.

The screenshots published by Ralph are of an alleged exchange between Cora and Schumacher’s new man, Etienne. Brinkman appears to congratulate him on their union in an attempt to indicate she knew all along about Etienne.

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Ralph publishes WhatsApp messages

The person Cora in the messages says “congrats” and “so happy for you both” and she tells Etienne she was told he and Ralph had married due to them wearing rings on their right hands.

The exchange goes somewhat cold as Etien dismisses Cora and states that in France people wear rings on the left after teeing the knot.

The conversation ends on apparently with no friction as Cora says, “I’m happy for you guys” obviously not the feelings she displays during the Der Spiegel interview.

In addition to the screen shot Ralph explains his wife knew of the relationship. “With all the back and forth, I would like to make it clear that Cora congratulated us in September 2023 because she thought we had gotten married,” he wrote in the Instagram post. 

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Cora calls out “pathetic” and “illegal” act

“As you can see from this message to Etienne personally. I think it’s a shame for Etienne and me that she spreads so many lies. We both just want to be left in peace.”

The publications of the WhatsApp messages were not the end of the matter as a fuming Cora hit back at Schumacher’s behaviour calling it “pathetic’”and “illegal”.

Cora 47 and a former model who made the cover of GQ magazine was encouraged by Ralph to take up racing motorcars as a hobby. Ralph 49 has been with Etienne for two years having met in Monaco, according to Carmen Geiss, an actress and close friend of the couple.

“How pathetic does a person have to be to illegally publish private WhatsApp messages in order to conceal the truth?” Cora responds on Instagram. 

“And you have been seriously suing me for ten years, claiming that I am not protecting your personal rights, while you shamelessly violate mine, instead of just approaching me and at least telling me the truth now.”

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Son David supports father Ralph

She claims Ralph had introduced Etienne as merely an assistant not his lover and explains, “The WhatsApp was my last attempt to at least find out the truth from him.”

It appeared the pair had remained as friends when Ralph congratulated Cora on her joining the German version of “I’m a celebrity – Get me out of here” in January. Yet the publication of private conversations will have dashed any hopes of their friendship being renewed.

When Ralph announced he was gay, he shared a picture of himself and Etienne saying: “The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.” Something of a snub to his ex-wife and the mother of his son.

Son David expressed support for his father posting, “I am very happy that you have finally found someone with whom you really feel that you feel very comfortable and secure, no matter if they are a man or a woman.”

David was asked this weekend whether the toxic nature of the public row between his father and mother was affecting him. He replied, “Definitely not on me, no,” he told RTL. ”I am 100 per cent behind you dad and wish you all the best and congratulations.”

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Ricciardo to replace Perez

Much has been made of Red Bull’s dilemma over Sergio Perez, yet as the Formula One summer break began, the team issued a statement affirming the Mexican driver would remain alongside Max Verstappen when racing resumes in Zandvoort.

Dr. Helmut Marko flew in to London for talks with Christian Horner over Checo’s future following the last round in Belgium. This after the Austrian had observed that Perez had “completely collapsed” during the Grand Prix in Spa. Having started on the front row, Sergio slipped through the field to finish in eighth, before George Russell’s disqualification saw him promoted up one place.

Yet at a team debrief Christian Horner told the assembled Red Bull team: “Checo remains a Red Bull Racing driver despite recent speculation and we look forward to seeing him perform at tracks he has previously excelled at after the summer break.”…. READ MORE