Ralf Schumacher’s ex-wife has revealed the truth behind the rumours she was paid to marry the former Formula One driver on a 10-year contract.

Cora wed Schumacher in a lavish ceremony in Salzburg in 2001 and they were married for 13 years, sharing a son, David, 23.

However, Ralf, the younger brother of seven-time world champion Michael, came out as gay last July when he revealed he was in a relationship with French business manager Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne, prompting Cora to burn her wedding dress.

Their relationship has since escalated into a bitter feud and last year, Cora made a public plea to Schumacher to leave her alone so she could ‘heal in peace’. She reacted angrily to his bombshell, claiming she had ‘wasted her best years’ on him.

Speaking to comedian Oliver Pocher, with whom she claimed to have had a brief affair, Cora addressed the explosive speculation behind her marriage to Schumacher.

She also admitted to BILD that Schumacher remains blocked on her phone.


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Ralf Schumacher’s ex-wife has revealed the truth behind rumours of a sham marriage


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Cora wed Schumacher in a lavish ceremony (pictured) in Salzburg in 2001


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But Schumacher, the younger brother of F1 icon Michael, came out as gay last July when he revealed he was in a relationship with French business manager Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne

‘Our falling out is water under the bridge, I’m getting along well with Olli [Pocher] again,’ Cora said. ‘Ralf, on the other hand, is blocked on my phone.’

Guesting on Pocher’s show ‘Hey Olli!’, Cora was again asked whether her high-profile marriage to Schumacher had merely been staged.

Pocher explained the rumour in more detail, saying: ‘Cora, she’s been assigned to him; she has a ten-year contract. When that expires, it’s over.’

But Cora denied the gossip, replying: ‘I’d be rich by now if that had been the case.’

Then, pressed on whether she didn’t notice anything during the marriage, Cora admitted: ‘Of course I asked a few times…. I didn’t know, otherwise I wouldn’t have married him. I wouldn’t have thrown my life away for any amount of money.

‘My best years.’

She also said the rumours about a sham marriage had hurt her ‘terribly’. Speaking to BILD last year, she again refuted the allegations, saying: ‘I didn’t sign a non-disclosure agreement in a marriage contract. It doesn’t say anything like that.

‘Otherwise, I would never have gotten married.’


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Cora waved away speculation she had married Schumacher on a 10-year contract


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Their relationship has soured and Cora said she ‘wasted her best years’ with Schumacher


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Schumacher is pictured with Bousquet-Cassagne, who he has been dating for three years

Cora is now in therapy but is reluctant to give up her famous surname.

‘Why should I? I’d be stupid,’ she added. ‘As long as I can still make money from it.’