Willi Weber attacked during violent home invasion
Willi Weber, the veteran motorsport manager who guided Michael Schumacher through two decades of Formula One success, fell victim to a violent home invasion at his Stuttgart residence on Tuesday morning, reports BritPanorama.
The 83-year-old was at his substantial four-storey villa in an exclusive area of the German city when three masked intruders forced their way inside. Weber, his wife, and their housekeeper were all present during the terrifying ordeal.
The balaclava-clad assailants proceeded to restrain all three occupants before ransacking the property, leaving the former manager of the seven-time world champion physically injured. The break-in occurred between 7:00 and 8:50 in the morning, with the intruders brandishing weapons to threaten the couple and their employee.
All three victims were bound by the attackers, who subjected Weber to physical violence during the incident. The ordeal left the octogenarian with visible injuries to his face. “I have a black eye, the detectives are here talking to me. I feel terrible. I’m in complete shock,” Weber told German newspaper Bild.
It took approximately an hour after the criminals fled before one of the three captives managed to break free from their restraints and alert the authorities. The thieves made off with a substantial haul, having cracked open several safes within the 16-room property. Police confirmed that cash and jewellery valued at several hundred thousand euros were taken during the raid.
The perpetrators managed to escape without detection, their identities remaining unknown to investigators. Authorities have released descriptions of the three assailants, noting they wore dark clothing in addition to their face coverings. One individual was distinguished by orange footwear, whilst another was described as having a notably corpulent build.
Weber’s illustrious career in motorsport management began in the late 1980s when he took on the young Schumacher as a client, a partnership that would endure for more than twenty years until the driver’s move to Mercedes in 2010. His negotiating prowess proved instrumental in securing Schumacher’s transfer from Benetton to Ferrari, where the German would claim five of his record seven world championships.
Beyond Formula One, Weber’s Stuttgart-based firm represented supermodels Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer, as well as drivers Ralf Schumacher and Nico Hülkenberg. The elderly businessman has faced considerable health difficulties in recent years, suffering a heart attack and subsequently losing nearly 25 kilograms following hospitalisation for a severe infection in 2022.
Police inquiries into the robbery continue, highlighting the unsettling intersection of fame and personal safety in the realm of motorsport management. The incident serves as a stark reminder of how public figures can be vulnerable, even in the sanctity of their homes.
