Michael Schumacher’s family battled to bury “secret” photos of the motorsport great leaked by a “friend” three years after his life-changing accident.
The anonymous person is believed to be a close friend of Schumacher and reportedly took a photo of the F1 legend lying in bed.
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They then allegedly smuggled the photos out of the family’s mansion in Lake Geneva and attempted to auction them off to the media, The Sun reports.
The German’s family battled to keep the photo under wraps, with his distraught wife Corinna demanding action by the police.
An investigation was launched at the time but has been reportedly been put on hold.
German prosecutors later confirmed that “an unknown person” had taken “secret” pictures and were offering them for close to $1.77m.
They called it a “violation of his personal range of life” and breach of privacy.
The European media house which was offered the exclusive first glimpse of the icon refused to reveal its source.
The unnamed news outlet also claimed it never saw any of the images of the legendary driver.
Former Ferrari boss Jean Todt has said that “hopes the world” will be able to see his dear friend again, revealing Schumacher has “never changed.”
“I don’t leave him alone. Him, Corinna, the family, we’ve had so many experiences together,” he said.
“The beauty of what we have experienced is part of us and it goes on.
“Sometimes success and money changes you. But Michael has never changed. He’s so strong.”
The Schumachers broke their silence on the family’s suffering in an emotional interview for a new Netflix documentary in 2021.
“I have never blamed God for what happened,” Corinna said.
“It was just really bad luck – all the bad luck anyone can have in life.
“It’s always terrible when you say, ‘Why is this happening to Michael or us?’ But then why does it happen to other people?”
She broke down as she told interviewers: “Of course, I miss Michael every day. But it’s not just me who misses him.
“It’s the children, the family, his father, everyone around him.
“I mean, everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here. Different, but he’s here and that gives us strength, I find.”
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