Michael Schumacher has been receiving around-the-clock care at his home in Switzerland – and details of his treatment have now been laid bare during the legal case involving his former nurse
The daily medical routine of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher has been described as “extremely challenging” during a trial concerning the alleged rape of his former nurse.
Schumacher requires around-the-clock care due to a traumatic brain injury sustained in a 2013 skiing accident. The seven-time F1 world champion, who won two titles with Benetton and five with Ferrari, retired from racing in 2006 but made a brief comeback with Mercedes from 2010 to 2012.
A year later, while skiing in the French Alps, Schumacher suffered a severe brain injury after falling and hitting his head on a rock. He has since been kept out of the public eye, splitting his time between his home in Switzerland and an estate in Mallorca.
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The intensity of his treatment has been revealed as a former racing driver stands trial for allegedly raping Schumacher’s former nurse at his home. Joey Mawson, 30, is currently on trial at the La Cote District Court in Nyon, accused of rape at the Schumacher household in Switzerland.
The nurse, who stopped working for the family in 2020, claims she was assaulted twice after a social gathering at the estate in 2019. Mawson’s defence lawyer, Maitre Veronica Abu Zeid, has asserted that her client vehemently denies the allegations, having previously maintained that the sexual encounter was consensual.
During the ongoing court proceedings, the nurse’s legal representative revealed the strain of caring for Schumacher on her client. The court was told: “It’s an extremely demanding job, both physically and emotionally.
“Compounding this is the veil of secrecy that shrouds this family. That’s understandable. But for the employees, who aren’t even permitted to discuss their daily routines with their mates, the pressure is immense.
“I mention this to illustrate how diligently and passionately she carried out her duties. She was tasked with the most challenging responsibilities.
“This is no ordinary profession. There are endless articles speculating about what transpires in this household and how the champion is faring.
“It’s a trial, a colossal amount of pressure, which she handles flawlessly. She is beyond reproach. The Schumacher family themselves acknowledge that her work is impeccable.”
Schumacher’s physical condition remains a mystery, but in January, rumours surfaced suggesting that he was no longer confined to his bed following years of physiotherapy.
It was suggested that he can now sit upright and has some awareness of his surroundings, although he still relies on a wheelchair and is unable to walk.
Elisabetta Gregoraci, the former spouse of ex-Benetton boss Flavio Briatore, revealed to Spanish media in 2020 that Schumacher is able to convey messages through his eyes.
She stated: “Michael doesn’t speak, he communicates with his eyes. Only three people can visit him, and I know who they are. They moved to Spain and his wife [Corinna] has set up a hospital in that house.”