Michael Schumacher’s wife in rare public squabble over son

Corinna Schumacher has caused a scene in front of the Formula 1 world in a confrontation with a long-time friend surrounding her family.

Michael Schumacher’s wife Corinna has been involved in a public squabble over her son Mick.

The proud mum was seen scolding friend of the family James Vowles with some stern words after the family returned to the headlines this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix.

The relationship between the family and Williams team boss Vowles has previously been described as “incredibly close”, but it appears to have been strained over comments made by the veteran Formula 1 official.

Those comments surrounded Mick Schumacher, son of the seven-time Formula 1 world champion.

The 25-year-old’s career has stalled since he was replaced at the Haas team and was forced to take a reserve driver job with Mercedes.

His talents and marketability made Schumacher a candidate to take the available seat with Williams for the 2025 season in the eyes of some.

However, Vowles delivered a brutal truth when speaking with reporters.

Vowles’ comments showed Schumacher was never a serious option to join the team after it sacked American Logan Sargeant last month and announced academy product Franco Colapinto would partner Alex Albon.

Mick Schumacher and Corinna Schumacher walk in the Paddock. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images.

Vowles tried to clarify his comments earlier in the race weekend, but the damage had been done.

According to a report, Corinna gave Vowles a piece of her mind when they were seen talking in front of members of the media behind the scenes at the iconic Monza circuit this weekend.

“The comments did not go down well, though, and Vowles said he apologised to Mick himself as he felt he had not made clear that by “special” he meant an Ayrton Senna-type talent,” leading Formula 1 journalist Chris Medland wrote for Motorsport Magazine.

“That didn’t stop Corinna Schumacher making her feelings to Vowles known as the Williams team principal left the track on Friday, in a quite public setting outside the paddock as well.”

The story described Vowles as ‘angering’ the Schumacher camp with Corinna having “laid into” the Williams boss.

Vowles’ earlier comments on Mick raised eyebrows across the Formula 1 paddock.

“The decision is do we put Mick in the car? I think Mick would have done a good job,” Vowles said.

“Or, do we invest in an individual that’s a part of our academy, that’s done hundreds to thousands of laps in our simulator, that’s driven the car, and on the data that we can see from how he’s performing, who’s making significant steps?

“I think both would fall into a category of good and not special. I think we have to be straightforward about this.

Michael Schumacher and his wife Corinna. AFP PHOTO / JENS KALAENE.

“Mick isn’t special, he would just be good.

“Mick has improved a lot from where he was in Haas, there is no doubt about it.

“He’s a competent driver ... (and) he has done incredible work with Alpine, with Mercedes and with McLaren in the meantime.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who also acts as Schumacher’s manager, also strongly disagreed with Vowles’ comments.

“Sometimes he says things too straightforwardly. That was a statement he could have done without,” Wolff said of Vowles.

“Mick has won everything there is to win, from F4, F3 and F2, and then of course operated in an environment with Gunther (Steiner, former Haas team principal), who is brutally tough and that was perhaps not what he needed to develop as a driver.

“That’s why he deserved the chance. If you don’t give it to him, you shouldn’t comment on it, you should let everyone live. That’s my opinion.”

Schumacher spent two seasons at Haas in 2021-2022, but struggled for consistency and suffered several massive crashes. He had only two points finishes, in back-to-back races in Great Britain and Austria in 2022.

Has spent the past year and a half as a reserve driver for Mercedes, and is also competing for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship.

Vowles first became close to the Schumacher family when he was Mercedes’ chief strategist for Michael’s F1 comeback in 2010.

Corinna has fiercely protected her husband’s privacy while he lives with a serious brain injury, with very few details of his condition every being made public.