Australian racing driver Joey Mawson has been named as the man accused of r*ping one of Michael Schumacher’s nurses while staying at the F1 legend’s mansion in Gland, Switzerland.
Mawson, 29, has strongly denied the charges, claiming the relationship was consensual.
None of the Schumacher family has been accused of any wrongdoing.
The Shocking Allegations
Prosecutors assert that the alleged assault took place in November 2019, after a cocktail party at Schumacher’s lakeside residence, per The Sun.
According to the indictment, the nurse had joined staff for a night of drinks, but later complained she felt unwell. She was carried to bed “without being undressed” and left asleep, prosecutors say.
Mawson allegedly returned to her room and r*ped her twice while she was unconscious. The nurse claims she has no memory of the events, per 24 Heures.
Further claims include that the nurse delayed reporting the incident, reportedly waiting until 2021 (or 2022, per alternate reporting) after she was dismissed from the Schumacher medical team.
In legal documents, her lawyer Patrick Michod argued during proceedings that “the evidence [against the defendant] is overwhelming.”
It is emphasised that no member of the Schumacher family is implicated in the allegations.
Mawson’s Denial & His Relationship with the Schumacher Family
Mawson denies all wrongdoing, reiterating that the encounter was consensual. He describes his connection to the nurse as “close,” pointing out that they had previously kissed at a Geneva nightclub.
He was formerly a friend - and on occasion a rival - of Mick Schumacher.
Mawson rose through junior racing ranks in Europe and Asia, often competing in the same series as Mick. At the time of the alleged attack, Mawson was driving extensively in Europe, including for Team Australia in the Porsche Supercup.
After his return to Australia, he found success in the S5000 championship, winning the title twice (2021, 2022). However, in 2023 he was suspended following a positive test for a banned supplement, per Metro.
A disciplinary process imposed a three‑year ban running from May 2023 to May 2026.
Reports say that Mawson had sought to meet with Swiss officials last year over the allegations. Meanwhile, the Schumacher family reportedly declined to comment on the case. According to Bild, Mick Schumacher and Mawson have not been in contact “many years.”
Trial Delays, Extradition Risks & Court Developments
A trial was scheduled to begin this week in Switzerland. Prosecutors submitted a one‑and‑a‑half page indictment. However, Mawson failed to appear in court.
In his absence, the r*pe trial was formally opened, but then adjourned to “a date to be fixed.” Prosecutor Xavier Christe confirmed the adjournment.
During court proceedings, three judges deliberated for about an hour before agreeing to postpone the trial. Despite objections from the victim’s attorney, the hearing was delayed. The victim’s side had opposed the postponement, citing the strong evidentiary basis already presented.
Switzerland maintains an extradition treaty with Australia, meaning that Mawson could be compelled to return to face charges. Swiss officials could invoke that treaty, given Mawson “has not been heard from in months.”
Behind the Gates: Michael Schumacher’s Health & Privacy
Since his skiing accident in December 2013, Michael Schumacher has remained out of public view. He suffers from severe brain trauma and requires round‑the‑clock care at his residence on Lake Geneva, managed by his wife Corinna and a private medical team.
In recent years, the family has tightly guarded his condition. Yet, in a rare moment of perceived progress, motorsport journalist Stéfan L’Hermitt told Le Grand Récit: “I would say he’s not doing well, but he might be getting better because fundamentally we don’t know anything.
“This year, he signed a helmet for a charity event.
“Was it his wife who held his hand? We don’t know exactly, but it’s the first time we’ve had a kind of positive sign, almost a sign of life.”
German broadcaster RTL reporter Felix Gorner has added that Schumacher “can no longer communicate verbally.”
Even as the legal storm brews around Mawson, no one from the Schumacher family was present at the time of the alleged attack, nor has anyone been implicated in the proceedings.