“Do 100 percent more”
Hamilton praises Ralf Schumacher’s coming out, but …
19.07.2024, 07:11 a.m.
The photo of Ralf Schumacher with his partner is attracting a lot of attention – and the ex-racing driver is receiving a lot of recognition for his coming out. Formula 1 record world champion Lewis Hamilton also praises his former competitor. But he also urges people to continue with the “positive message”.
Lewis Hamilton has described Ralf Schumacher’s move to make his relationship with a man public as a “positive message” for Formula 1. But the record world champion, known for his fight for equality and diversity, also warned that the motorsport royalty fund needs to do much more.
“It’s one thing to say something is inclusive, it’s another to create an environment where those affected feel free and comfortable,” said Hamilton. Formula 1 is a space dominated by men. “We can 100 percent do more.”
Ralf Schumacher had shown himself arm in arm with a man in an Instagram post. The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything, wrote the 49-year-old brother of Formula 1 record world champion Michael Schumacher.
Schumacher and his partner Étienne had already expressed their enthusiasm for many other positive reactions. “Ralf & Étienne are overwhelmed by the many great responses from all over the world, nobody really expected that,” a family spokesman said. Compatriot Nico Hülkenberg criticized negative comments in Budapest: “There is always hate in the world and especially online, where people remain practically anonymous. That’s not great.”
Remembering the protest by Vettel and Hamilton in Hungary
Among the current Formula 1 drivers, of whom Hamilton and Fernando Alonso drove against Ralf Schumacher, the reactions were consistently positive. “Total support from me and I’m sure from the entire Formula 1 community,” said two-time world champion Alonso from Spain. Schumacher will be back as an expert for Sky at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend, and RTL will also broadcast the qualifying (Saturday, 4 p.m.) and the race (Sunday, 3 p.m.) live.
But there is still a long way to go for Formula 1, Hamilton stressed. There is a history around the issue of diversity at the Hungaroring. In 2021, Hamilton and the German four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel protested there against a then-planned referendum against the rights of non-heterosexual people in Hungary. It was unacceptable, cowardly and misleading of those in power to propose such a law, Hamilton stressed at the time, among other things.
At the time, Vettel wore a rainbow-colored T-shirt with the words “Same Love” to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, i.e. people with different identities and sexual orientations. The German was warned for the action before the national anthem was played. “It all started here when Seb and I were on the grid and fighting against the government,” Hamilton said.