Three individuals have been found guilty of conspiring to blackmail against the family of the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher has been out of the public eye since 2013 after a ski accident resulted in serious brain injuries, as the family decided to keep his medical condition private.

Yilmaz T, a bouncer at a nightclub in southern Germany, has been sentenced to three years in prison for threatening to upload 900 personal photos, approximately 600 videos, and confidential medical records to the dark web unless the Schumacher family paid €15million (£12million).

The 53-year-old’s son received a six-month suspended sentence for aiding and abetting extortion, while a former security guard at Schumacher’s home, who denied involvement, was given a two-year suspended sentence.

Both the father and son admitted to most of the charges against them, with Yilmaz stating in court that his actions were “very, very disgusting.”

“I realised that on the second day in prison, I will answer for it,“ he said.

Yilmaz admitted to receiving two hard drives from the security guard, Markus F, who was accused of passing the sensitive files for a “five-figure sum”.

It is believed that one of the hard drives was never recovered.

The judge criticized the security guard for allowing the blackmail scheme to start, while the Schumacher family’s lawyer announced they would contest his suspended sentence.

Markus had been working for the family for 18 months before Schumacher’s ski accident.

According to the defence, Schumacher’s wife, Corinna, had asked him to digitize the family’s private photos.

They claimed that the material went missing after his contract was terminated.

Schumachers’ lawyer labels offence the ‘ultimate betrayal’

The court continued to hear how Yilmaz and his son had emailed the Schumacher family samples of the stolen files.

Recordings of phone calls made to the Schumacher family were also presented.

During one of these conversations, the father explained to the family that instead of attempting to blackmail them, he was willing to act as a broker to return the files and identify their source in what he referred to as a “clean deal”.

In response, the Schumacher family contacted local authorities in Switzerland who were able to track down the source of the call to Germany.

The three men were subsequently arrested back in June 2024.

Thilo Damm, the lawyer for Schumacher’s family, stated that the sentences were too lenient for what he termed the “ultimate betrayal”.

“We do not agree with everything the court said,” he said.

“You can rest assured that we will exhaust all legal possibilities at our disposal.”

Concerns were also raised by Damm about a missing hard drive, despite thorough searches of the defendants’ properties.

“We don’t know where the missing hard drive is,” he explained.

“I don’t have a crystal ball but there is the possibility of another threat through the backdoor.”

READ MORE: Piero Ferrari compares Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton F1 debuts

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Alpine has confirmed the exact driver crews for their #35 and #36 A424 Hypercars in the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship campaign.

The French manufacturer is preparing for their second season in the competitive Hypercar category with their two A424 LMDh machines.

Paul-Loup Chatin, Charles Milesi and Ferdinand Habsburg will co-drive the #35 Alpine whilst Mick Schumacher, Jules Gounon, promoted after a holding a reserve role, and newcomer Frederic Makowiecki will co-pilot the #36 Alpine.

Matthieu Vaxiviere will take on a reserve role after being part of the #36 crew last year with Schumacher and now-Sporting Director Nico Lapierre.

“The arrival of Frederic Makowiecki is a real plus,” said team principal Philippe Sinault.

“His presence will give us the benefit of his vast experience, as well as his racing and technical credentials.

“He is known for his pertinence, analysis insight, situational intelligence, and technical understanding of the car.

“His mindset and character mirror our project. His personality makes you want to work with him.

“He likes to share and exchange ideas while remaining extremely demanding.

“His contribution will help us improve, and we are sure he will fit in well with our team and help us achieve our common goal.”

A tweaked look for their second season

An eight-round schedule awaits Alpine with the season-opener taking place on 28 February with an 1812 km (10-hours approximately) race at Qatar’s Losail International Circuit.

The pre-season test, known in the WEC as the Prologue, will commence prior on 21-22 February.

Alpine claimed their maiden Hypercar podium last year at the 6 Hours of Fuji.

Their most crucial aim will be to reach the chequered flag at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (Round 4).

Mechanical failures subsequently struck them before the six-hour mark last year.

As announced, they will run tweaked liveries which feature the French tricolour on the A424s.

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Piero Ferrari, son of founder Enzo, has compared the Maranello debuts of Formula 1 record holders Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.

Schumacher and Hamilton share the record for the most Drivers’ titles in F1, both achieving an extraordinary seven championships.

Their legacies have been connected further with Hamilton joining Ferrari, the team Schumacher helped revitalise into a world-beater.

The German joined the Scuderia in 1996, having won the last two championships amid a worrying slump for Ferrari.

Comparing Schumacher’s Ferrari arrival with Hamilton’s, Piero Ferrari told Italia publication Autosprint that “The situation was different, he had just won two world championships, there was a lot of pressure. 

“Michael seemed cold to the general public, but with those who knew him closely, he was very friendly,” Piero added. 

“I have always had a friendly relationship that has lasted over the years”

True enough, when Schumacher joined Ferrari, it hadn’t clinched the Drivers’ title since 1979 and the German was made to wait for his first title in red until 2000, starting a run of five consecutive championships.

In addition, when the German arrived in Maranello in 1996, Ferrari had won just two races across the previous five seasons.

Hamilton’s scenario is an altogether different prospect as the 40-year-old is in the twilight of his career having won his seven titles elsewhere.

Unlike Schumacher, who was approaching the peak of his powers in 1996, Hamilton’s best days are more than likely behind him, but he finds a Ferrari team in a similar title drought, which stretches back to Kimi Raikkonen’s 2007 success. 

However, Ferrari is in a better run of form now compared to 1996.

2024 saw Ferrari clinch five race wins and miss out on the Constructors’ title by just 14 points.

Piero Ferrari recounts ‘beautiful’ reaction to Hamilton’s Ferrari debut

Hamilton arrived in Maranello for the first time as a Ferrari driver last week and completed his inaugural running of the Fiorano test circuit on Wednesday, January 22.

100s of adoring Tifosi descended on Fiorano and Piero Ferrari was overwhelmed by the reaction of the Scuderia’s loyal fanbase.

“I almost couldn’t believe it! All that true passion struck me,” he said. 

“The people on the little bridge overlooking the Fiorano track, invading the cycle path, was a demonstration of love. Beautiful.”

The Italian added that he “Went to greet [Hamilton] when he set foot in Fiorano, of course, welcoming him. 

“He had seen the fans waiting for him from the car windows, and he was happy, surprised,” Ferrari added.

The social media world was taken by storm with Hamilton’s first photo posing outside the legendary Ferrari headquarters of founder Enzo, Piero’s father.

Hamilton posed next to an iconic Ferrari F40, wearing a a double-breasted overcoat from Italian label Ferragamo, coupled with a black pin-stripe double-breasted suit and tie, and white shirt.

Completing the look, Hamilton wore red-soled leather Louboutin boots.

Piero Ferrari was impressed, saying: “From the way he presented himself. I don’t remember other drivers so elegant on their first day at Ferrari. An impeccable suit, a tie…

“We managers, for example, were without ties,” Ferrari exclaimed.

READ MORE – Lando Norris compared to Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher with Singapore F1 win

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Frederic Makowiecki, a long-timer at Porsche, has joined the Alpine Endurance Team for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship campaign.

Alpine has confirmed their six drivers for their second FIA WEC season with their A424 Hypercar package.

The Frenchman ended his long partnership with Porsche at the 8 Hours of Bahrain season finale, now entering his 12th WEC season.

Mick Schumacher has also chosen to continue his sportscar efforts with Alpine after departing his reserve role at Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1 team.

Their reserve driver last year, Jules Gounon, will compete in a full-time season after his four race outings in the 2024 campaign.

Five drivers will effectively continue from last year with Makowiecki joining the squad for the first time.

“I am extremely proud as a French driver,” said Makowiecki.

“It’s something special to represent a French manufacturer in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the possibility of aiming for an overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, especially as Alpine has a vibrant motorsport history.

“I truly liked the team’s approach and development.

“Alpine improved and excelled in its first season against very tough competition.

“I’m joining humbly, but I want to contribute to the team significantly.

“Doing everything better than everyone else will be crucial if we are to get over the final hurdles, and I’m already looking forward to Qatar.”

Makowiecki will take on his third WEC season driving a prototype sportscar package, with his years beforehand driven in GTE Pro competition.

Schumacher as a key asset

Schumacher conducted his first ever season in sportscar racing last year and showcased himself as one of the fastest drivers.

At the penultimate Fuji Speedway round, Schumacher played a significant part in earning Alpine’s first podium finish.

His F1 dream remains alive albeit further away as he can now fully focus on his sportscar efforts.

He said: “We had a great first year together, and I am determined to help ensure that the performance of the program is even better in the second year.

“We have defined a few points where we want to attack, so I’m really looking forward to my second endurance season.”

Bruno Famin, Vice-president of Alpine Motorsports, said: “Each [driver] brings a unique potential, with a single ambition: to improve the team and the A424 as much as possible.

“We have built a strong, close-knit group to build on the foundations of our first campaign, and the commitment of our drivers, coupled with their talent, will allow us to rise to the challenges that await us in the 2025 season.”

Alpine will confirm which drivers will be allocated to which of their two A424s when the 2025 season approaches.

READ MORE: WEC releases 2025 provisional entry list featuring newcomers

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Mercedes has announced that Mick Schumacher has decided to exit his position as the Formula 1 team’s reserve driver, with Valtteri Bottas expected to replace him.

Schumacher has served in the role at Mercedes – the team his father, Michael, completed his F1 career with – since losing his race drive with Haas at the end of 2022.

The German combined his duties supporting Mercedes at races and tests with a seat in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine across the current campaign.

Having missed out on landing his desired return to the F1 grid for 2025, Schumacher has taken the decision to depart his role at Mercedes to pursue his racing career.

“I am grateful to Toto [Wolff] and the entire Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team for the insight I have gained over these two years,” Schumacher said.

“They have undoubtedly made me a more experienced racing driver because I have got to know the engineering side better.

“But watching these cars race and not sitting in the cockpit myself is tough. I want to get back to focusing 100% on racing.

“I want to be fully committed to the sporting side of motorsport. Ultimately, it is racing that you want to do as a driver, it is racing that gives you that feeling you love.”

Schumacher out, Bottas in?

Bottas, who won 10 races with Mercedes between 2017 and 2021, is poised to take Schumacher’s spot at the German marque having lost his current seat at Sauber.

Mercedes boss Wolff added: “Mick’s hard work, diligence, and determination in his role as Reserve Driver has been vital for the team over the past two years.

“From his work in the simulator, testing of various cars, and being part of the trackside team, we couldn’t have asked for any more from him.

“From day one, he fitted into the team with ease and has become an incredibly well-liked colleague for everyone at Brackley and Brixworth.

“However, Mick is first and foremost a racing driver. We have seen from both his time in F1, and this year with his performances in the World Endurance Championship, that he is a racer of an incredibly high calibre and one that deserves to be competing in the very best championships.

“As he moves on to his next challenge, I would like to thank Mick personally for his contribution to our team and we all wish him the very best in his future endeavours.”

READ MORE – Valtteri Bottas open to F1 return with General Motors, dismisses Red Bull move

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Sergio Perez was critical of his father Antonio’s homophobic comments towards Formula 1 race winner Ralf Schumacher, admitting “he did a mistake in that regard”.

Antonio Perez was speaking out against Schumacher, who has been heavily critical of his son amid a poor run of performances with Red Bull.

Speaking to ESPN, the Mexican said, “[Schumacher] came out of the closet. I don’t know if he was in love with Checo. Do you understand it? 

“There are many strange things. You no longer know if he is a journalist, a woman, a gentleman.”

Speaking to Sky Sports News ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Perez chastised his father’s use of ignorant language.

“First of all, I don’t agree with any of his comments,” the Red Bull driver said.

“I think he did a mistake in that regard. I don’t share any of his views but at the same time I don’t control what my father has to say, I can only control what I say.

“It’s important as a sport to always show that whatever happens on track it always remains on track.

“That’s the way I see it and we should always be an example for the rest of the world.”

Perez’s final comments along with F1’s We Race as One initiative, which seeks to welcome all members of the racing community regardless of race, religion, gender or sexuality.

Moreover, his Red Bull employers are partners with motorsport initiative Racing Pride, an organisation seeking to break down barriers for the LGBTQ+ community.

Ralf Schumacher ‘not angry’ with Antonio Perez

Schumacher, the younger brother of seven-time F1 World Champion Michael and a winner of six Grands Prix across his own career, responded to Perez senior’s comments via Instagram.

“I would also stand behind my son 100 per cent and try to help,” he wrote.

“That’s what you do as a father. As far as style is concerned, I would be different but we know Mr Perez with all his emotions.

“That’s why I’m not angry with him. However, I think that results on the track would be the better arguments.”

Schumacher was previously married to ex-wife Cora, with whom he has a 23-year-old son, David, currently racing in the ADAC GT Master series.

This summer, Schumacher revealed publicly that he was in a same-sex relationship with partner Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne.

“The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything,” the German wrote in July, receiving widespread support.

READ MORE – Sergio Perez’s father makes homophobic remarks towards Ralf Schumacher

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Sergio Perez’s father Antonio Perez Garibay made homophobic remarks towards former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher that needlessly called to the German’s sexuality.

Schumacher bravely revealed he is in a same-sex relationship this summer to widespread admiration.

The GP winner turned pundit is well known for giving no quarter when criticising drivers on the current grid (or team bosses if your surname happens to be Steiner).

Still, that’s no excuse for comments made by Perez’s father, who was defending his son’s shaky foothold on a Red Bull F1 drive.

Schumacher has said he doesn’t expect Perez to drive a “single metre” for Red Bull in 2025, incurring the ill-expressed wrath of Perez senior.

“There’s a driver who was a Formula 1 driver, [turned] journalist,” Perez Garibay said in a video interview with ESPN.

“He first stated that Checo [Perez] was already out of Red Bull. 

“The following week, he [Schumacher] came out of the closet.

“I don’t know if he was in love with Checo. Do you understand it? 

“There are many strange things.

“You no longer know if he is a journalist, a woman, a gentleman. 

“But his opinion doesn’t matter, not because of Checo Perez, but because of what his [ex-]wife said about him.”

Schumacher responds to Perez Garibay remarks 

Perez Garibay’s words have no place in F1, that much is clear.

Schumacher took to social media to respond to Perez senior’s ignorant remarks.

Writing on Instagram, the German said; “I would also stand behind my son 100 per cent and try to help. 

“That’s what you do as a father.

“As for the style, I would be different but we know Mr. Perez with all his emotions.

“That’s why I’m not angry with him.”

Schumacher ended his thoughts on the matter by taking a little jab at Perez’s Red Bull form.

“However, I believe that results on the track would be the better argument,” he wrote.

Perez was handed a mid-season reprieve by Red Bull during the summer break after a troubling batch of form.

Save for a lost podium thanks to clashing with Carlos Sainz in Azerbaijan, the Mexican’s slump has continued.

This has contributed to Red Bull slipping from first to third in the F1 Constructors’ standings.

Max Verstappen is almost single-handedly leading that effort with 393 points to Perez’s 151.

READ MORE – Ralf Schumacher: Williams’ F1 choice to overlook Mick ‘absurd’

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Ex-Formula 1 team boss Franz Tost has claimed that Sauber has made a mistake not selecting Mick Schumacher over Gabriel Bortoleto or Nico Hulkenberg for 2025.

Sauber announced earlier this week that Bortoleto will partner Hulkenberg, who penned a multi-term deal back in April, to complete the team’s line-up for next season.

The news has all but banished Mick Schumacher’s F1 hopes, with the former Haas driver having been overlooked despite being among the names Sauber considered.

Sauber explained the decision to pick Bortoleto revolved around a desire to invest in the next generation, as the Brazilian will be among three rookies on the 2025 grid.

However, Tost has warned that Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto’s mistakes in the wet in Brazil last weekend highlight the dangers associated with that approach.

“Oliver Bearman often went off the track and seemed overwhelmed. And Franco Colapinto had two serious accidents. This cost Williams millions, he told F1 Insider. 

“From a political point of view, it would also be an extremely unfortunate decision.”

Schumacher deserves second F1 chance

Tost, who oversaw the Faenza-based squad now known as RB up until the end of last season, has indicated that Schumacher warrants a second chance in the series.

“Mick is still young and has won both crucial junior classes, something Bortoleto has not yet achieved,” he underlined.

“In addition, he is very fast, has constantly improved during his two years with the Haas team.

“And now, in his role as a test driver [with Mercedes], has a lot of mileage experience with the current Formula 1 cars.”

Tost would’ve chosen Schumacher over Hulkenberg

Hulkenberg’s impressive outings since his own return to F1 in 2022 with Haas have landed him a long-term deal with Sauber as it prepares to evolve into Audi in 2026.

However, Tost believes the veteran German, who holds the record for the most races without a podium finish with 224 starts, no longer merits his position on the grid.

Instead, the Austrian has argued that Schumacher should have been the driver that the Audi-owned operation prioritised earlier this season rather than his compatriot.

“In my opinion, he doesn’t belong in Formula 1 anymore,” he expressed regarding Hulkenberg.

“They would be better off giving a young German like Mick Schumacher a chance.”

READ MORE – Mattia Binotto turns Sauber F1 rejecting Mick Schumacher on Toto Wolff

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Sauber boss Mattia Binotto has claimed Mercedes’ Toto Wolff should bear the same questions over the choice not to grant Mick Schumacher a 2025 Formula 1 drive.

The announcement earlier this week that Gabriel Bortoleto will race with Sauber next season has all but ended Schumacher’s small chance of returning to the F1 grid.

Schumacher has been eager to receive a second chance in the series since Haas elected to drop him once his crash-strewn sophomore campaign concluded in 2022.

But although Binotto revealed that he was among the Audi-owned team’s candidates to partner Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber has chosen Bortoleto to complete its line-up.

The Swiss-Italian engineer, who worked with Schumacher during his time at Ferrari, has insisted the German remained on Sauber’s list up until it decided on Bortoleto.

Asked whether Schumacher was someone that he contemplated, Binotto replied: “Yeah. We had several talks, he was certainly a strong candidate.

“I know him very well from the past and I know his strengths and maybe his weaknesses as well, but certainly I think he would have been a good choice.

“I think there have been many candidates and Mick would have been certainly a good choice as well.

“Now sometimes you need to come to a decision. I think there is no reason why or blames for me, the reason simply goes we decided for Gabriel and that’s it.”

Binotto questions Mercedes

Binotto has argued that he should not be alone in being quizzed about his decision to overlook Schumacher as he pointed out Mercedes also elected to do the same.

Schumacher, a Mercedes reserve driver since last term, wasn’t considered when the team selected Andrea Kimi Antonelli to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.

“I think that maybe we should ask the same of Toto: why Kimi and not Mick?” Binotto continued.

“I think at some time you need to come to a decision and you make to make a decision. So today, we made the decision to employ and to hire Gabriel and we are happy.”

Schumacher’s F1 hopes ‘unrealistic’

Schumacher’s uncle, Ralf, has expressed that his nephew landing an F1 reprieve has to be deemed as “unrealistic” unless an unexpected situation arises next season.

“Formula 1 is a crazy business,” the ex-F1 driver told Sky Deutschland.

“The question is, who will be the substitute driver where? Or will he now concentrate on his long-distance career?

“Unfortunately, Formula 1 is rather unrealistic for Mick, unless someone drops out due to illness.”

READ MORE – Who is Sauber 2025 F1 rookie Gabriel Bortoleto?

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Alpine’s poor qualifying performance for the FIA World Endurance Championship season finale, the 8 Hours of Bahrain, was down to not getting the tyre warmup stage correct, Mick Schumacher told Motorsport Week.

 “It’s not great,” he said, looking a bit downcast, when Motorsport Week asked the German about how Alpine’s qualifying, and his own in the #36 Alpine A424, had gone.

“There were obviously some points there such as tyre warm up, which wasn’t great. It was a bit impeded by some of the cars around us not being in a great position.

“At that point, just because we were doing something and some people were doing another kind of strategy, by bedding in some tyres, we were a bit impeded, and therefore our tyres weren’t quite ready into the first lap, and then by the second lap they weren’t quite there any more,” he said.

In the opening 20 minute qualifying session for the Hypercars, some teams, including the BMWs and Ferraris, scrubbed in a set of tyres for the race.

After they’d pitted, with new tyres, they proceeded to set their representative qualifying laps.

So, from what the German said, it’s possible cars which had pitted caused Schumacher to not be able to get the tyres into the ideal window to do a quick lap.

“It’s a bit unfortunate, but at the end of the day, we have eight hours tomorrow to make up for it,” he finished.

Schumacher hoping for better race pace

With qualifying not going the way Alpine would have wanted, the focus is now fully on the eight hours in front of them.

“I would hope so!”, the 25-year-old said when Motorsport Week asked if he thinks there’s more pace in the car for the race, when compared to qualifying.

“At the moment, it does seem like it. We’ve obviously focused a lot on just purely trying to make the race work. That’s the biggest focus. We know this track is quite aggressive towards tyres, so that was a big, big focus for us. We actually didn’t really try and prepare anything for qualifying.

“So that turned out to work against us a bit more, but hopefully we’ll be really able to focus on making some positions up. There’s always stuff happening in WEC, so I think there’ll be opportunities for us,” he concluded.

Alpine need to finish ahead of BMW and outscore the German team in order to ensure they finish fourth in the manufacturers championship. The French squad currently lead by three points; each position between fourth and ninth has a three-point gap, so it’ll be a fraught battle.

Schumacher’s closing words when asked about the battle? 

“It’ll be tough, but we just have to try and focus on our race.”

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