Michael Schumacher privacy: ex-Red Bull executive backs wife’s secrecy in Switzerland By Luís Henrique Costa
3 min read
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Richard Hopkins, former head of operations at Red Bull and a former McLaren mechanic, says he respects the decision of Corinna Schumacher to keep her husband’s health out of the spotlight. Hopkins made the remarks on October 14, 2026. Michael Schumacher, 57, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, has lived discreetly in Switzerland and has not appeared in public for about 13 years.
Hopkins built a friendship with the German in the 1990s, when he worked as a mechanic at McLaren and shared coffee with him in the paddock, the area behind the garages where teams work. He says he misses those daily conversations. Still, he said a reunion would only make sense if his old friend were in good condition.
Asked about a possible meeting, Hopkins said: “I hope to see him again. I’d love to. But only if it’s the right moment.” He added that nobody wants to see Michael in a situation he would not want to be seen in, and that if Schumacher were not well, he would prefer not to visit.
Hopkins would only reunite if Schumacher is well
For Hopkins, the limits Corinna has set on information aim to protect her husband’s image after the accident that changed the family’s routine. He believes former colleagues and the fans who followed Schumacher on the track should not criticize that stance.
Check out: F1: Richard Hopkins backs Corinna's secrecy on Michael Schumacher's health
Hopkins admitted he does not know what his wife thinks about the matter. “I don’t know what Corinna thinks. Maybe it’s connected to this, since it’s about Michael. He was the embodiment of strength, and I think she is protecting him more than herself, the family and everything else. I’d love to see Michael, have a chat and a coffee, rather than see him in an unpleasant situation. So we have to respect that,” the former Red Bull executive said.
Family privacy seen as a way to guard Schumacher’s image
The Netflix documentary “Schumacher ’94: Birth of a Legend”, released on October 2, 2026, revived memories of his conduct on and off the track. Directed by Christin Freitag from 1,300 hours of archive material, the film covers his first world title, won with Benetton in 1994. That season was marked by the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at Imola, disqualifications in Britain and Belgium, a two-race suspension, and a title decided in Adelaide. In Brazil, the film is distributed as “Schumacher 94: Nasce Uma Lenda”.
Follow: Michael Schumacher home care in Gland and Mallorca: family keeps health private
Hopkins also described Schumacher as an emotional man who did not hide his irritation in the paddock. “Schumacher was a very emotional guy. He showed his feelings openly, especially when he got emotionally angry. He was not made of steel. He was not a robot. At the end of the day, he was a human being,” he said.
Documentary on the 1994 season revives the emotional side of Schumacher
Schumacher’s withdrawal from public life began in December 2013, when he suffered a severe head trauma after hitting a rock while skiing with his family in the French Alps. He never fully recovered and continues to live at his mansion in Switzerland. Reports in the British press say he now uses a wheelchair, but the family strictly controls private records, and his current clinical condition remains under secrecy, with no official medical confirmation.
