The F1 icon suffered life-changing injuries in December 2013

Gina Schumacher, the 29-year-old daughter of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher, will feature in a new ZDF documentary that explores how equestrian sport became her lifeline following her father’s devastating accident.

“Pferdestärke” is set for release on 17 April and offers rare personal insights from the world-class western rider.

Speaking about the period after her father’s 2013 skiing incident, she reveals: “After dad’s accident, I really got stuck in because I had to do something.

“The horses have always been important. But since then they’ve really … well, I couldn’t do without horses. They helped me get through it all.”

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion sustained a traumatic brain injury during a skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013.

Medical teams placed him in an induced coma following the incident.

Since that time, the Schumacher family has maintained strict privacy regarding his health, with very little public information emerging about his condition.Michael Schumacher sustained serious injuries while skiing in France back in 2013 | GETTY

The documentary marks a rare occasion where family members have spoken publicly about the impact of the accident, with Gina opening up about how the tragedy shaped her path to becoming one of the sport’s elite competitors.

Gina has established herself among the world’s premier western riders, claiming two World Championship titles during the summer of 2025.

Her victories came at the family’s own equestrian facility located in Givrins, near Nyon in Switzerland.

Gina-Maria Schumacher (pictured right) has enjoyed horse riding

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The Schumacher family operates ranches in both Switzerland and the United States, with the documentary providing viewers a glimpse into these operations.

The film explores not only Gina’s competitive achievements but also the infrastructure that has supported her rise to the top of her discipline.

Her journey from coping mechanism to world champion status forms a central narrative thread throughout the production.

Corinna Schumacher, now a successful breeder in her own right, also appears in the documentary and shares a prescient observation her husband made more than 25 years ago: “Michael once said to me – when Gina was ten years old: Gina will be much better than you. Because she is more selfish.

Michael Schumacher won seven F1 titles during his career | GETTY“If you’re an athlete, you have to be selfish to a certain extent. And that’s good. Otherwise you won’t amount to anything. Today I think: he was so right.”

Gina maintains a grounded outlook despite her accomplishments, expressing gratitude for opportunities she acknowledges were not guaranteed.

“My parents made it possible for me,” she says.

“That’s why it was always important to me to work hard for it and make the best of it.”