F1: Richard Hopkins backs Corinna’s secrecy on Michael Schumacher’s health By Luís Henrique Costa
3 min read
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Richard Hopkins, former Red Bull chief of operations and ex-McLaren mechanic, said on 14 October 2026 that he respects the decision of Corinna Schumacher to keep her husband’s health out of the public eye. Michael Schumacher, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, is 57 and has lived discreetly in Switzerland for about 13 years without appearing in public.
Hopkins built a friendship with the German driver in the 1990s, when he worked as a mechanic for McLaren. The two often shared coffee in the paddock, the backstage area where Formula 1 teams work. Hopkins said he misses those daily meetings, but he believes a reunion only makes sense if his old friend is in good condition.
“I hope to see him again. I would love to. But only if it is the right moment, and nobody should push it,” Hopkins said. “If he is not well, I would rather not see him, even though I miss him.”
Why Corinna’s privacy stance should not be judged
Hopkins believes the restrictions imposed by Corinna Schumacher aim to protect the image of her husband after the accident that changed the family’s routine. He said former colleagues and fans who followed the career should not criticize the family’s position.
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“I don’t know what Corinna thinks about this. But maybe it is connected to the fact that we are talking about Michael,” Hopkins said. “He was the embodiment of strength, and I think she is protecting him more than herself and the family. I would love to have a coffee with him rather than see him in an unpleasant situation, so we have to respect that.”
Netflix film revives memories of Schumacher’s 1994 title
The memories of the driver’s conduct on and off the track returned to focus after the premiere of the documentary Schumacher ’94: The Birth of a Legend, released by Netflix on 2 October 2026. Directed by Christin Freitag from 1,300 hours of archive material, the 105-minute film covers the first of Schumacher’s seven world titles, won with Benetton.
That 1994 season was marked by the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at Imola, disqualifications in Britain and Belgium, the suspension of two races and a title decided in Adelaide. In Brazil, the film is distributed as Schumacher 94: Nasce Uma Lenda.
Hopkins said Schumacher was highly emotional and showed his feelings openly, especially when he got irritated. “He was not necessarily sad emotionally, but I am sure there were other occasions like that. The guy was not made of steel, and he was not a robot. In the end, he was a human being.”
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Schumacher has stayed out of public view in Switzerland since 2013
Schumacher’s withdrawal from public life began in December 2013, when he suffered a serious head injury after hitting a rock while skiing with his family in the French Alps. He has never fully recovered and remains under care at his mansion in Switzerland.
Reports say he now moves in a wheelchair, but the family strictly controls any private records of his condition. The exact current clinical state of the seven-time champion remains under family secrecy, and no official public medical confirmation has been released.
