Michael Schumacher makes first public appearance in 11 years

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Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher reportedly was spotted in public for the first time in more than a decade as he attended his daughter’s wedding on the weekend.

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Schumacher and his immediate family have been protective of his privacy after he sustained a life-changing brain injury as a result of a skiing accident at the French resort of Meribel in 2013.

The full extent of the injury has never been revealed to the public, but Schumacher has spent the past 11 years in near-total privacy.

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According to reports, only his closest family members — excluding even brother Ralf, a fellow ex-F1 driver — and a team of medical personnel have access to the 55-year-old motorsports icon.

But this stance may be softening, with signs that Schumacher may be ready to be seen in public once again.

This past weekend saw Schumacher’s 27-year-old daughter, Gina-Marie, wed Iain Bethke at the family’s luxurious villa on the Spanish island of Mallorca.

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The four-acre estate, which was purchased in 2017 from Real Madrid chairman Florentino Perez, has its own helipad which is used to transport Michael from his family home by Lake Geneva in Switzerland to the 15,000 square-metre villa.

Privacy at the wedding was closely guarded, with guests required to leave their phones at the door before entering. It is believed to be the first time Michael has been in public, interacting with friends and family members since his accident.

It may also potentially signal a softening in wife Corinna’s approach towards privacy.

Last year, Ralf revealed he was no longer in touch with Michael and Corinna while still keeping contact with their children, Gina-Maria and Mick. Ralf also said he is always there to offer support.

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“When I see his children Gina-Maria and Mick, my heart smiles,’ Ralf told German magazine Bunte.

“If someone in the family is looking for my advice, I’m there. They go their own way.”

Majorcan news outlet Ultima Hora reported that the wedding ceremony lasted for around half-an-hour and that the newlyweds said “I do” at around 4 p.m. local time.

The family may be back together for another wedding soon enough, too.

Mick, who currently is a reserve driver for Mercedes in Formula 1, is rumoured to have proposed to his girlfriend, Danish lingerie model Laila Hasanovic. The couple has been together for roughly 18 months and are rumoured to be planning a wedding for 2025.

Mick congratulated his sister on her wedding in an Instagram story on Sunday, writing: “I’m so happy for you two.”

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