Why Ralf Schumacher coming out as gay shows F1’s shifting sands – at long last

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Schumacher, 49, is just the fourth driver in the sport’s 74-year history to come out, following Mike Beuttler, Mario de Araujo Cabral and Lella Lombardi, the only female driver to score points in F1. Christian Hewgill, an openly gay F1 broadcaster, put the point succinctly in a TikTok following Schumacher’s social media post: “I believed when I first started to realise that I might be gay around that age that it wasn’t possible to be both a huge sports fan and gay, let alone be involved in sport for a living and be out and open with who I am publicly and be gay. There will be so many people now seeing Ralf Schumacher… for him to come out and say ‘yes I’m in a same-sex relationship’ is massive.” open image in gallery Ralf is the younger brother of seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher The power of role models when it comes to LGBTQ+ and sport is monumental. open image in gallery Lewis Hamilton has worn a rainbow helmet at races around the world Hamilton was unequivocal in his opinion, describing the law as “unacceptable, cowardly and misguiding.” He added: “Everyone deserves to have the freedom to be themselves, no matter who they love or how they identify.” The Mercedes driver has repeated his stance and shows solidarity with the gay community in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain by wearing a rainbow helmet.