Jul.19 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he is glad former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher “changed his mind” on the issue of gay pride.
In 2021, world champions Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel took a stand against the Hungarian government at the Hungarian GP.
Vettel, now retired, declared he would be “happy if they disqualify me” for wearing a t-shirt with the caption ‘Same Love’ during the national anthem for the Hungarian GP, while Hamilton made similar public gestures.
At the time, Schumacher was critical of the growing trend for mixing sport with politics, hitting out at the way Hamilton in particular “always has to do this in a Mercedes suit and on the race tracks”.
“His values are very important but he can represent them on Instagram and other social networks.”
But now, between the British and Hungarian grands prix, 6-time grand prix winner Schumacher has ‘come out’ for the first time as gay in his own social media post, drawing widespread praise for no longer hiding his same-sex relationship with a male partner.
“It shows that we are finally at a time when you can take this step,” said seven time world champion Hamilton ahead of the 2024 Hungarian GP, as quoted by Sport1.
“It all started when Seb and I were here on the grid, fighting against what the government is doing here,” the British driver added.
“Ralf thought it was not a good idea to do that at the time,” said Hamilton. “Maybe he has changed his mind now.
“The fact that Ralf himself is now taking this step is a positive signal,” he added. “It could encourage others to follow his example.”
But what Hamilton, 39, may not be aware of is that Schumacher’s partner has been revealed to be Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne, a former French politician who was very much on the right wing.
His party, Rassemblement National, is headed by the highly controversial Marine Le Pen, and has actively campaigned against ‘LGBT propaganda’ and ‘gender ideology’.