A new Netflix documentary offers rare personal insights into Michael Schumacher’s life away from Formula 1, with wife Corinna Schumacher discussing their relationship and recalling how the seven-time world champion considered retiring after the traumatic events of the 1994 season.
Michael Schumacher has lived almost entirely away from the public eye since suffering a serious skiing accident in December 2013. His family has maintained strict privacy around his condition, meaning details about his life since the accident remain closely guarded.
However, fans can now hear Corinna Schumacher speak about her relationship with the former Ferrari and Benetton driver in the Netflix documentary Schumacher ’94 – The Birth of a Legend, which premiered on October 2.
Corinna Schumacher reveals how their relationship began
The German newspaper Bild, which received early access to the 105-minute documentary, published several excerpts from Corinna Schumacher’s interviews.
She reveals that her relationship with Michael initially faced opposition from her mother, largely because of Schumacher’s aggressive driving style in karting.
“My mother was completely against it.”
Despite that resistance, the relationship developed, with Corinna recalling how she supported Schumacher throughout his Formula 1 career regardless of whether he won or lost.
The couple also had a private way of resolving disagreements. According to Corinna, they would sit together on a bench and talk whenever something was troubling them.
She also revealed that Paula Abdul’s Rush Rush was a special song for the couple.
“When I hear it today, when I’m in the car, I cry to myself.”
The documentary also contains some lighter details from Schumacher’s racing career. Corinna recalls that Michael regularly received underwear among his fan mail, including packages from an admirer named Jutta.
Schumacher considered retirement after the 1994 Imola tragedy
Corinna also discusses one of the darkest periods of Michael Schumacher’s racing career.
The 1994 season had been expected to centre on Schumacher’s battle with reigning world champion Ayrton Senna. Instead, the championship was overshadowed by tragedy at Imola.
Austrian Roland Ratzenberger was killed during qualifying on Saturday, April 30, while Senna died the following day during the San Marino Grand Prix.
Corinna recalls that the events marked the first time she fully understood the dangers facing Formula 1 drivers.
“That was the first time we understood how dangerous things were becoming.”
According to Schumacher’s former manager Willi Weber, the events had such an impact on the German that he briefly questioned whether he wanted to continue racing.
“He cried on the bus and told me he was wondering whether he wanted to drive in the next race.”
Schumacher ultimately continued his career, going on to win seven world championships and establish himself as one of Formula 1’s most successful drivers.
Corinna says, however, that Schumacher did not tell her about the extent of his doubts at the time.
“He didn’t tell me he couldn’t do it anymore. I think he wanted to protect me.”
Sabine Kehm describes Schumacher and Corinna as a lifelong partnership
Schumacher’s long-time manager Sabine Kehm also discusses the couple’s relationship in an RTL interview ahead of the documentary’s release.
Kehm describes Michael and Corinna as exceptionally close and says that family was always an important source of support for the driver during his racing career.
“Michael and Corinna are a fantastic couple; it’s a love for life.”
Kehm also revealed that Schumacher’s daughter Gina and son Mick have watched the documentary.
For them, the film offered an opportunity to revisit a period of their parents’ lives from before either child had been born.
The documentary therefore focuses not only on Schumacher’s emergence as a Formula 1 star but also on the people and experiences surrounding him during the early stages of his career.
For fans who have had almost no direct insight into Schumacher’s private life for more than a decade, Corinna’s recollections provide an unusually personal look at the man behind the seven-time world champion.
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Clara Marlowe is a Formula 1 writer at TJ13 with over 15 years of experience in motorsport journalism, having contributed features to established sports magazines such as Evo, MCN, Wisden Cricket Monthly and other digital outlets.
Clara specialises in human-interest storytelling, focusing on the individuals behind the sport, including drivers, engineers, and team personnel whose roles are often overlooked in mainstream coverage.
At TJ13, Clara contributes long-form features and narrative-driven pieces that explore the personal and professional journeys within Formula 1. This includes coverage of career-defining moments, internal team dynamics, and the human impact of high-pressure competition.
Clara’s work brings depth and perspective to the sport, complementing news and analysis with stories that highlight the people behind the machinery.
Clara has a particular interest in how personal narratives intersect with performance, and how individual experiences shape outcomes across a Formula 1 season.
