Michael Schumacher's ex-manager blasts F1 legend's daughter for changing her surname

daughter has been blasted by the ex-Formula One star's manager for changing her surname after getting married.

Schumacher enjoyed a stellar career in the sport, winning a record seven Drivers' Championship titles - an achievement that stood alone until Lewis Hamilton matched it in 2020.

The German's motorsport legacy has been kept alive by his son Mick, who has also enjoyed several - albeit less successful - seasons in Formula One.

But it would appear his daughter, Gina, has opted against keeping the family surname following her marriage to Iain Bethke last month.

The couple tied the knot in Majorca and it's since been reported by German outlet that Gina has taken her husband's surname instead.

At least that's according to her Facebook profile, which is now said to read Gina Bethke.

But Michael's former manager Willi Weber hasn't taken well to the news and has hit out at Gina for dropping the Schumacher surname.

The 82-year-old commented: "Why would you just drop such a big name? I don't understand it!

"Giving up a name like that. It's a brand. It's connected to her father. I wouldn't have done that. But that's her decision! The other is my opinion."

However, Weber's shots might've been fired prematurely, as Schumacher's daughter recently appeared at an equestrian event under the name 'Gina Schumacher Bethke'.

What's more, the 27-year-old's Instagram account still reads as @gina_schumacher, despite her having posted photographs of the wedding itself.

It comes after amid the motorsport legend's ongoing health complications, with Michael Schumacher having suffered a serious head injury during a skiing trip in France 11 years ago.

Schumacher hasn't appeared publicly since the incident, with Weber admitting he struggled to come to terms with his former colleague's accident.

"It was my fault that I didn't visit Michael after the accident and stand by him," he continued. "Because I thought the media reports were exaggerated.

"I thought I'd better wait a few days and then everything would be fine. But it was too late. For a long time I blamed myself for not reacting immediately.

"Since then, I've said goodbye to Michael in my heart in order to find my peace again."

He added: "I have had no contact with the family for over ten years, I can barely remember what even happened.

"I was not invited to the wedding, but I would not have gone anyway because my health is not good at the moment. I would not have wanted to fly to Mallorca.

"Michael was one of my best friends. More like a son that I never had. Nobody knows exactly what's going on with him today, so I don't want to comment any further."