The mother of Ralf Schumacher’s ex-wife Cora has intervened in a row between the ex-spouses. The brother of racing superstar Michael called his ex-partner a “liar” for claiming he did not know he was homosexual.
Schumacher came out publicly on Instagram in July, sharing a photo of himself and partner Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne with the caption: ‘The best thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything’.
Cora, who split from Schumacher in 2015, later claimed she was blindsided by the revelation and admitted in an interview that she felt “used” by her ex-husband.
In retaliation, Schumacher published screenshots of an alleged conversation between Cora and Bousquet-Cassagne on Monday, which appear to show the former model and racing driver telling him she was “so happy” for the Frenchman and her ex-husband.
Cora later called Schumacher’s revelation “pathetic” and “illegal”, adding that the WhatsApp was “her last attempt to at least get the truth from him”.
Cora Schumacher’s mother (pictured) has spoken out about the ongoing feud between her daughter and her ex-husband Ralf
The former Formula 1 driver (left) announced on Instagram last month that he is gay and in a relationship with Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne (right)
Ingrid Brinkmann (second from left) added to her daughter’s claims that she was unaware that her ex-partner was homosexual
The last voice to speak out about the simmering family feud comes from the neighborhood: Cora’s mother Ingrid Brinkmann. She confirms her daughter’s claims that she knew nothing about her ex-husband’s sexual orientation before the public announcement.
“I feel sorry for Cora, how she is now being publicly insulted and portrayed as a liar,” Brinkmann said BILDreferring to Schumacher’s comments accompanying the leaked WhatsApps. ‘He has always denied the rumours to us.’
The 70-year-old woman called it “rumours”, recalling the interview with her daughter last weekend, in which Cora revealed that there were “a lot of rumours in the paddock” about Schumacher’s sexual orientation during his Formula 1 career.
“I asked him if what he said was true, but he always denied it,” Cora said of the former Williams and Toyota driver. “He said I was imagining things and that maybe I needed psychological help.”
Recalling that period, Brinkmann added: ‘I spoke to Ralf and asked him why there were always problems. He sat across from me and said, “Ingrid, I’m telling you, I’m absolutely not gay. Those are just rumors.”‘
Cora said she felt like her life was ‘wasted’ during her marriage to Schumacher
Schumacher published WhatsApp messages in which Cora allegedly congratulated Etienne
Ralf’s French partner Etienne is seen on a yacht in Monaco harbour during a Formula 1 race weekend
Brinkmann also claimed that there were strong ties between her daughter and her ex-husband, whom she married in 2001.
Cora regularly told her mother ‘how much she was in love with her,’ Brinkmann continued. ‘Cora married Ralf out of love.’
‘Ralf also told us that he loves Cora.’
Brinkmann shared details about the couple’s marriage, continuing, “Of course he slept with Cora. That’s why we all thought it was a nasty rumor that Ralf was gay.”
The ex-spouses have one son, David, who Brinkmann said was conceived “without artificial insemination” and “quickly” after the couple’s wedding.
Schumacher is still in a relationship with the 22-year-old, who publicly congratulated his father after his coming out.
On the other hand, it is thought that David and Cora have been estranged for some time.
Cora wonders if he really loves her and says in a new interview that she feels ‘stabbed in the heart’
The former spouses were married between 2001 and 2014 – they share a 22-year-old son David
Referring to the end of Schumacher’s relationship with her daughter, Brinkmann noted that Cora had “fought for Ralf” but had ultimately accepted their separation nine years ago.
‘Ralf Schumacher doesn’t let anyone or anything tell him what to do,’ Brinkman concluded.
According to Carmen Geiss, a close friend of the couple, Schumacher and Bousquet-Cassagne have been together for two years after meeting in Monaco.
According to a former friend, Cora had previously been on holiday with her ex-husband and Bousquet-Cassagne, but the former model maintains that she only met her ex-husband’s new partner on a professional basis.