Ralf Schumacher’s new associate breaks silence on feud together with his ex-wife

Ralf Schumacher’s new partner has revealed he is ‘disappointed’ with the former Formula One star’s heartbroken ex-wife after she claimed she was not made aware about their relationship or her husband’s homosexuality.

The former Williams driver, brother of seven-time world champion Michael, came out as gay in July by posting a picture of himself alongside his French business manager Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne, the duo standing arm-in-arm on a boat.

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, Schumacher, 49, received a torrent of positive messages, including from his close friend German actress Carmen Geiss.

But comments from ex-wife Cora a few weeks later triggered a bitter feud between the former couple after the model and former racer said she ‘felt used’ and had ‘wasted her best years’ – and that she had not been told about Ralf and Etienne’s relationship.

The sporting icon’s new partner has now strongly denied the claims and admitted he is ‘disappointed’ with the remarks, in an interview with RTL. 

He said: ‘I thought we had a good connection with Cora. ​​When she arrived, she asked me: “Are you sleeping together?”

‘I told her: “Yes, of course. We are together. We are a couple.”

‘And she was happy for us. That was okay, that was great, a great week with Cora. ​

‘​That’s why I’m disappointed now.’

Cora asserted in August that she had found out about the relationship over social media and believes she was psychologically manipulated by Ralf during their marriage.

‘I wish Ralf had included me or at least let me be part of his decision. It would have been a sign of respect,’ she told Der Spiegel, via Marca.

‘During his career in F1, there were many rumours in the paddock. I asked him to clarify if what was being said was true, but he always denied it, telling me that I was imagining everything and that maybe I needed psychological help. 

‘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.

‘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?

‘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.’

Ralf responded to his ex-wife’s comments, insisting he had always been faithful to Cora, 47, and that if he had wanted a child he could have achieved this by other means than getting married.

He added that she seemed to be the only person taking issue with his relationship update.

According to Geiss, Ralf has been with 34-year-old Etienne for two years, having met him in Monaco.

Cora, 47, tied the knot with Schumacher in 2001 and was with him for 14 years. 

The pair were still believed to be close as he congratulated her on joining the cast of the German version of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in January.

She is a German actress, model, former racing driver and television presenter and is also on the adult platform OnlyFans.

In October 2003, she featured on the cover of the German edition of GQ before turning her attention to racing.

Influenced by her husband, she made her racing debut in 2004 as part of the celebrity team in the Mini Challenge in Germany, qualifying 22nd out of 24 for her first race.

From there she went on to more competitive racing and enjoyed 14 years of it until she hung up her boots in 2018.

Etienne also detailed his trepidation at Ralf’s decision to announce his homosexuality but added that he backed his partner throughout and that he ‘loves everything’ about the ex-F1 racer.