A documentary about Formula One legend Michael Schumacher featuring never-before-seen private videos and interviews with family members is set to air on Netflix.
Approved by his family, ‘Schumacher’ features exclusive interviews with his wife Corinna, his two children Gina and Mick, himself an F1 driver since this season, and brother Ralf.
It also features interviews with who worked with or raced against Schumacher, including Jean Todt, Bernie Ecclestone, Sebastian Vettel, Mika Hakkinen, Damon Hill and David Coulthard.
Schumacher, 52, who won a record seven F1 titles since equalled by Briton Lewis Hamilton, has not been seen in public since suffering severe head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013.
The documentary retraces the life and career of the German driver and promises unseen archive material that shows the ‘many facets of his multi-layered personality’.
The portrait of the racing legend is ‘the only film supported by his family’, the platform said in a press release.
Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm describes the film as the ‘family’s gift to their beloved husband and father’.
A documentary about Formula One legend Michael Schumacher (pictured celebrating winning the Grand Prix at Silverstone in July 1998) featuring never-before-seen private videos and interviews with family members is set to air on Netflix
Approved by his family, ‘Schumacher’ features interviews with his wife Corinna, (pictured together) children, and past and present F1 drivers
Schumacher, who won 91 Grand Prix before retiring from Formula One in 2012, suffered a serious head injury on December 29, 2013 in the French Alps and his state of health remains secret.
Netflix said the documentary does not focus on his health.
‘The greatest challenge for the directors was certainly to find the balance between independent reporting and consideration for the family,’ said Vanessa Nocker who directed the film along with Hanns-Bruno Kammertons and Michael Wech.
‘Corinna Schumacher herself was our greatest support in this.
‘She herself wanted to make an authentic film, to show Michael as he is, with all his ups and downs, without any sugar-coating.
‘She was great and brave enough to let us do what we wanted, and so we respected and kept her boundaries. A very inspiring, warm woman who made a lasting impression on all of us.’
The documentary does not focus on Schumacher’s health after he suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013 (pictured L-R brother Ralf, mother Elisabeth, Schumacher, and father Rolf)
The documentary was set to be released in 2020 following filming in 2019, but was delayed several times by producers because of the volume of material they had to edit.
It is set to air on Netflix in Europe on September 15 – weeks after the anniversary of Schumacher’s F1 debut in Belgium 30 years ago.
It is not yet known if the documentary will be added to Netflix in the UK on the same date.
The documentary features interviews with past and present F1 drivers Sebastien Vettel, Jean Todt, Bernie Ecclestone, and Schumacher’s 22-year-old son Mick (pictured)
Netflix said the series pays tribute to Schumacher’s life, following his F1 career until his retirement in 2012, (pictured, holding the flag after finishing his last ever race in 2012)
Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm said: ‘Michael Schumacher has redefined the professional image of a racing driver and has set new standards.
‘In his quest for perfection, he spared neither himself nor his team, driving them to the greatest successes. He is admired all over the world for his leadership qualities.
‘He found the strength for this task and the balance to recharge at home, with his family, whom he loves idolatrously.
‘In order to preserve his private sphere as a source of strength, he has always rigorously and consistently separated his private from his public life.
‘This film tells of both worlds. It is his family’s gift to their beloved husband and father.’