An Australian racing driver has been accused of raping a nurse who was responsible for caring for Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher at his residence in Gland, Switzerland, in November 2019. The accused, reportedly a close friend of Schumacher’s son Mick, is alleged to have assaulted the nurse after a social gathering at the family estate. According to The Daily Mail, the Schumacher family was not present during the alleged incident. The case is now proceeding to trial in Switzerland.
Prosecutors claim the incident occurred after a cocktail party at the Schumacher residence on November 23, 2019. The nurse, who was in her 30s and part of the private medical staff attending to Schumacher following his 2013 skiing accident, allegedly lost consciousness after consuming vodka. Reports indicate that a physiotherapist and the accused helped her to a staff bedroom, where she was placed in bed without being undressed. Later that night, the man allegedly returned and raped her twice while she was unconscious.
Court documents reveal that the accused, who was in his late 30s and staying near the Schumacher property, had access to the premises due to his friendship with Mick Schumacher. The Australian driver claimed to have met the nurse earlier at a club in Geneva, but she denies any prior interaction. The nurse filed an official complaint in January 2022, over two years after the alleged assault, reportedly fearing that reporting the matter earlier could cost her her job with the Schumacher family.
Initially, the accused cooperated with Swiss investigators and even travelled from Australia for questioning, according to Lausanne-based outlet 24 Heures. However, recent reports suggest that he has become unreachable, raising concerns among authorities about potential evasion or non-compliance with court proceedings. The Public Prosecutor’s Office of the District of La Côte confirmed that the Schumacher family has no involvement in the case and remains unnamed in official filings.
The nurse’s decision to come forward two years later stemmed from fear of professional repercussions, Metro.co.uk reported. The delayed complaint has complicated the legal process, as investigators struggle to locate the accused for further questioning. Despite his initial cooperation, his current disappearance may hinder the trial’s progress.
Meanwhile, Michael Schumacher himself has remained entirely out of the public spotlight since suffering a severe brain injury in a skiing accident in December 2013. He was transferred to his family’s residence overlooking Lake Geneva in 2014, where he has been receiving continuous private medical care. The property, heavily guarded and secluded, has been his home for over a decade.
Schumacher, one of Formula 1’s most decorated drivers, holds seven world championship titles and 91 race wins across a 19-year career. His dominance on the track made him one of the highest-earning athletes in motorsport history, with career earnings estimated at around £468 million. Since his accident, his family has maintained strict privacy about his condition, and he has not been seen publicly for over a decade.
