Joey Mawson, a 29-year-old Australian racer, has been identified as the individual accused of sexually assaulting a nurse who worked for Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher. The alleged incident took place at Schumacher’s residence in Gland, Switzerland, following a party where the nurse was reportedly rendered unconscious. Mawson refutes the allegations, asserting that the encounter was consensual and based on a pre-existing close relationship, which included a previous kiss shared at a nightclub in Geneva.
Originally from Sydney, Australia, Mawson was once considered a promising Formula 1 talent before deciding to return to racing in Australia due to a decline in performance. He had a close relationship with Schumacher’s son, Mick, and competed against notable figures in the sport such as Lando Norris from McLaren and George Russell from Mercedes.
A trial was set to commence this week, with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the District of La Cote preparing a detailed indictment for the case. However, Mawson, a two-time champion in the Australian S5000 series who is currently banned from racing due to a doping scandal, failed to appear in court on the scheduled day.
Despite Mawson’s absence, the trial officially began but was promptly adjourned for a later undetermined date, as reported by The Sun. Notably, members of the Schumacher family are not implicated in the legal proceedings.
According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s indictment, Mawson is accused of sexually assaulting the nurse while she was unconscious after consuming vodka cocktails. The nurse, who remains unidentified, served as a live-in caregiver for Schumacher, who requires continuous care following a tragic skiing accident in 2013.
Court documents allege that Mawson was present at Schumacher’s residence on the night of the incident, reportedly November 23, 2019. The accusations claim that after the nurse retired for the night, Mawson returned and assaulted her while she was unconscious. The nurse lodged a formal complaint over two years later, in January 2022.