Former F1 driver and brother of sport legend Michael Schumacher, Ralf, has come out as gay.
The German national who won six Formula One races, the last being the French Grand Prix in 2003, announced in an Instagram post today.
In the post, the 49-year-old uncle of current Mercedes-Benz Reserve Driver Mick Schumacher showed a picture of himself standing, looking at the sunset with his arm around his partner Etienne.
The post read, “The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.”
View this post on Instagram
Ralf’s close friend and German actress Carmen Geiss replied to his social media post, writing: ‘I LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH.
‘You have the best partner, Etienne, you can imagine. After two years you can finally show your love to the world. I have known Ralf for more than 25 years and he has always been a great joy to me.
‘Always liberal, a good-hearted person who I can call day and night and above all has always been honest with me in his position.
‘I am happy that I got to be a part of this love and even more happy for the two who searched and found each other, because I also love Étienne deeply.’
Ralf Schumacher was married in 2001 to Cora Brinkmann and they had one child David who is also a racing driver.
David was one of the many positive comments on his Father’s post.
“I am very happy that you have finally found someone with whom you really feel very comfortable and secure, no matter if you are a man or a woman, I am 100% behind you Dad and wish you all the best and congratulations.”
Other support for the announcement came from UK-based rainbow organisation Racing Pride saying, “Thank you for this post. Love is love and love is beautiful.”
The sport currently has no openly gay drivers with only Mike Beuttler, back in the early 70s, being openly gay while driving in the sport’s elite championship.
Beuttler raced in Formula One from 1971 until 1973, scoring five top-ten finishes in his 28-year career before moving to the US at 34. Mike Beuttler died, at just 48 years old, of AIDS-related illness.
The sport has had many rumours about other gay drivers but it seems only Mike and now Ralf have been the only ones willing to take the next step and turn their private lives public.
As the work of Racing Pride continues and openly speaking about the issue by former World Champions Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, today’s announcement could make it easier for the next racer to take the step.
Last Updated on Aug 16, 2024
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