Six-time Grand Prix winner Ralf Schumacher has revealed he is in a same sex relationship, with son David leading the messages of support.
The former Formula 1 driver, 49, used social media to make the announcement by posting a picture of him and a man, who is believed to be his partner, with their arms around each other and watching a sunset.
He captioned the picture: “The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.”
Schumacher – brother of seven-time F1 World Champion Michael – enjoyed a ten-year career in the sport and he has now earned the admiration of his fans and colleagues by coming out as gay.
His son David, who is a racing driver himself, was quick to comment as he shared his support for his father.
The 22-year-old said: “I am very happy that you have finally found someone with whom you really feel that you feel very comfortable and secure, no matter if they are a man or a woman.
“I am 100 per cent behind you dad and wish you all the best and congratulations.”
In a career that ran from 1997 until 2007, he drove for Jordan, Williams and Toyota and during this time he married Cora-Caroline Brinkmann, with David being born in 2001.
The couple divorced in 2015.
German actress Carmen Geiss, a close friend of Schumacher, has revealed that he is dating a man called Etienne.
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Responding to Schumacher’s revelation, she said: “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 Etienne deeply.”
Geiss then uploaded a picture of herself and the happy couple together on Instagram, where they could be seen all smiles with a bottle of wine in Schumacher’s hand.
Schumacher started 180 races across 11 seasons in F1, where he won three Grand Prix’s in 2001 to finish fourth in the Drivers’ Championship.
He triumphed in San Marino, Canada and then in his home Grand Prix in Germany, before placing first in Malaysia the following year.
His final two victories occurred in 2003 at the European Grand Prix at the iconic Nurburgring, before winning in France the following race.
