F1 legend Michael Schumacher reportedly makes first public ...

File image of German F1 legend Michael Schumacher. Reuters

Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher made headlines across the world after he was reportedly spotted for the first time in 11 years at his daughter’s wedding.

The 55-year-old seven-time F1 world champion has not been seen in public ever since he suffered a horrific skiing accident in 2013 — a year after his retirement from the sport — that left him with a life-threatening brain injury.

Schumacher had been leading a private life since surviving the accident, with only a handful of family members and medical professionals having access to the 55-year-old German racing legend. His wife Corinna and children — daughter Gina-Maria and son Mick — have over the years requested the press as well as the Formula 1 community to respect the family’s privacy.

However, the secrecy surrounding Michael’s health finally appears to have somewhat relaxed. This after the legendary racer’s reported appearance at Gina-Maria’s wedding to boyfriend Iain Bethke at the Schumacher family’s villa in the Spanish island of Mallorca.

According to British tabloid Metro, the marriage function on the secluded villa was a closely guarded affair with guests required to leave their phones at the door, and is believed to be Michael’s first public appearance since his accident. The Ferrari legend had interacted with friends and family members at the event, the report added.

German newspaper Bild added that it was “quite possible and “even very likely” that ‘Schumi’ was present at the villa to bless the union, though it’s unlikely he would have appeared at the estate’s sprawling garden where guests apart from close family members were present.

Schumacher’s lawyer Felix Damm had recently explained why the racer’s family have been so private regarding his health for over a decade now.

“It was always about protecting private things. We considered whether a final report about Michael’s health could be the right way to do this,” Damm was quoted by SI.com as telling German media outlet LTO.

“But that wouldn’t have been the end of it and there would have had to be constantly updated ‘water level reports’ and it would not have been up to the family when the media interest in the story stopped,” he added.

Schumacher had married Corinna, a German champion equestrian, in 1995. While his 27-year-old daughter Gina-Maria is a jockey, son Mick followed his father’s footsteps and entered the world of motorsport.

The 25-year-old currently competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Alpine and is also a reserve driver for Mercedes in Formula 1, the elite class of international automobile racing in which his father won 91 races.