Seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher’s home town is set to be destroyed, in order to make way for Germany’s largest open-pit coal mine.
Whilst Germany is planning on phasing out coal in 2029, Schumacher’s home town is set to be flattened, with the exemption of three venues.
Schumacher’s childhood home, the village church, and the famous Erftlandring go-kart track won’t be touched, whilst everything else will be flattened.
It’s at the Erftlandring go-kart track where Schumacher’s name started to become known, with the 91-time race winner having learnt his skills at the legendary venue.
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Kerpen-Manheim isn’t only the place where Schumacher grew up, it’s also where he married his wife, Corinna.
It’s certainly a devastating tragedy for the village, which as it stands only has 12 residents.
Very little, of course, is currently known about the legendary driver’s condition, following his horrific skiing accident at the end of 2013.
His accident has left him needing considerable attention from medical staff, with his privacy having been widely respected ever since.
The only real updates regarding his condition typically come from former Ferrari team principal and former FIA president Jean Todt, who remains a family friend of the German’s.
It was Todt who led Schumacher to greatness at Ferrari, with the father of Mick Schumacher having claimed five consecutive titles from 2000-2004.
Todt is often asked about the condition of the former Ferrari driver, to which he recently asked for the media to “leave” one of F1’s greatest ever drivers “alone”.
“Let’s leave him alone,” Todt told Corriere della Sera.
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“We respect the privacy wishes of Corinna and her children, we know that that accident had consequences. Anyone who says he knows something, he knows nothing. I always go to see him. He and his family are my family.”
Todt has previously shared that he’s watched races with Schumacher, suggesting that perhaps the duo have been able to watch one of Mick’s races from either 2021 or 2022.
Mick, of course, is Mercedes’ reserve driver this season, with the young German having been dropped by Haas following the conclusion of last year, with Nico Hulkenberg having been signed to replace him.