Former Michael Schumacher Manager Willi Weber 'In Complete Shock' After Violent Home Robbery

Willi Weber, the longtime former manager of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher, says he is “in complete shock” after being violently robbed and assaulted by a group of masked intruders at his villa in Stuttgart, Germany. The 83-year-old was beaten until he revealed the code to a safe containing watches and jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of euros.

Why it matters:

This violent incident against a pivotal figure in F1 history underscores a disturbing personal security breach for someone deeply embedded in the sport's legacy. Weber was instrumental in guiding Michael Schumacher's career to seven world championships and managed other prominent drivers, making the targeted nature of the attack particularly alarming for the F1 community.

The details:

• According to German reports, three masked robbers ambushed Weber, his wife, and a housekeeper during dinner, tying them to chairs and threatening them with a gun and other weapons.
• Weber was repeatedly punched in the face when he initially refused to give up the safe code, resulting in a black eye, forehead bruises, and a cut on his nose.
• The stolen items included high-value watches that were among Weber's most prized possessions, including a Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph (worth at least €100,000), a Rolex Day-Date II Platinum (€50,000), and an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore (€25,000).
• Weber has previously expressed a sentimental attachment to his watch collection, once stating his wish to be buried with them as keepsakes.
• After over two hours, Weber managed to free himself and alert the police. He received medical treatment at the scene but did not require hospitalization.

The big picture:

Weber believes the robbery was the result of careful planning, telling media, “They knew what they were doing... I must have been spied on for weeks. They came in and knew everything.” He dismissed suggestions that publicly listing his villa for sale made him a target, questioning the state of security in his own country. The incident has forced him to hire personal bodyguards for protection.

What's next:

German police are investigating the crime, reviewing video recordings from the villa for clues about the perpetrators and their escape route. For Weber, a man who spent decades in the high-stakes world of F1, the violation of his personal safety marks a traumatic chapter, leaving him and his family to recover from the physical and psychological impact of the attack.