Ralf Schumacher’s ex-mother-in-law wades into ‘mendacity’ row with ex-wife

The mother of Ralf Schumacher’s ex-wife Cora has waded into a row between the former spouses which has seen the brother of racing superstar Michael brand his ex-partner a ‘liar’ for claiming not to have known that he was gay. 

Schumacher came out publicly via Instagram in July, sharing a picture of himself with his partner Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne with the caption: ‘The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything’. 

Cora – who split with Schumacher in 2015 – later claimed that she had been caught off-guard by the revelation, and admitted in an interview that she ‘felt used’ by her former husband. 

In retaliation, Schumacher published screenshots on Monday of an alleged conversation between Cora and Bousquet-Cassagne which appear to show the former model and racing driver tell him she is ‘so happy’ for the Frenchman and her ex-spouse. 

Cora later branded Schumacher’s revelation as ‘pathetic’ and ‘illegal’, adding that the WhatsApp had been ‘her last attempt to at least find out the truth from him’. 

The mother of Cora Schumacher (pictured) has weighed in on her daughter’s roiling feud with her ex-husband Ralf

The ex-Formula One driver (left) announced that he was gay – and in a relationship with Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne (right) – on Instagram last month

Ingrid Brinkmann (second left) added to her daughter’s claims that she had been unaware her former partner was gay

The latest voice to weigh in on the brewing family feud is one close to home – Cora’s mother Ingrid Brinkmann, who has backed up her daughter’s claims that she did not know about her ex-husband’s sexuality before the public announcement. 

‘I feel sorry for Cora, how she is now being insulted in public and portrayed as a liar,’ Brinkmann told BILD, in reference to Schumacher’s accompanying comments to the leaked WhatsApps. ‘He always denied the rumours to us.’

The 70-year-old’s mention of ‘rumours’ echoes her daughter’s interview over the weekend, which saw Cora reveal ‘there were many rumours in the paddock’ about Schumacher’s sexuality during his Formula One career. 

‘I asked him to clarify if what was being said was true, but he always denied it,’ Cora said of the former Williams and Toyota driver, ‘telling me that I was imagining everything and that maybe I needed psychological help.’ 

Recollecting the period, Brinkmann added: ‘I talked to Ralf and asked him why there was always trouble. He sat opposite me and said: “Ingrid, I’m telling you, I’m definitely not gay. Those are just rumors.”‘

Cora said that she felt as if her life had been ‘wasted’ during her marriage to Schumacher

Schumacher published WhatsApp messages in which Cora purportedly congratulated Etienne

Ralf’s French partner Etienne is seen on a yacht in Monaco harbour over an F1 race weekend

Brinkmann also asserted that there had been strong bonds between her daughter and her former husband, who she married in 2001. 

Cora would frequently tell her mother ‘how much she was in love’, Brinkmann continued, adding: ‘Cora married Ralf out of love.

‘Ralf also told us that he loves Cora.’ 

Sharing details about the couple’s marriage, Brinkmann went on: ‘Of course he slept with Cora. ​​That’s why we all thought it was a nasty rumor that Ralf was gay.’ 

The former spouses share one son, David, who Brinkmann said was concieved ‘without artificial insemination’ and ‘quickly’ after the pair’s nuptials. 

Schumacher continues to have a relationship with the 22-year-old, who congratulated his father publicly following his coming out. 

By contrast, David and Cora are thought to have been estranged for some time. 

Cora has questioning whether he truly loved her and shared she feels ‘stabbed in the heart’ in a new interview

The former spouses were married between 2001 and 2014 – they share a 22-year-old son David

Referencing the end of the relationship between Schumacher and her daughter, Brinkmann noted that Cora had ‘fought for Ralf’ but ultimately accepted their divorce nine years ago. 

‘Ralf Schumacher doesn’t let anyone or anything tell him what to do,’ Brinkman concluded.   

Schumacher and Bousquet-Cassagne have been together for two years after meeting in Monaco, according to close friend of the couple Carmen Geiss. 

Cora is alleged to have previously holidayed with her ex-husband and Bousquet-Cassagne according to a former friend, but the ex-model remains adamant that she was only introduced to her ex-husband’s new partner in a professional capacity.