Last week, Ralf Schumacher announced via Instagram that he has found the love of his life. A former top racer coming out in the macho culture that still pervades Formula 1 was big news, even making the headlines.
With his hair neatly styled, the inevitable white sneakers on his feet, and a dark blue T-shirt from his employer Sky Sports Germany adorning his fit body, Ralf Schumacher has been navigating the Formula 1 paddock as a respected and outspoken analyst for years. This was no different at the Hungaroring this past weekend.
The German, younger brother of seven-time world champion Michael, was always able to go about his work undisturbed. He was not a sought-after ‘object’ for selfie hunters, rarely bothered. In all these years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Schumi II pose with fans for a popular snapshot. Most of the new Formula 1 fans probably just don’t know him, I suspect. But after his revelation, crowds of people in the paddock at the Hungaroring are flocking around him to take pictures as he provides on-camera analysis. He seems to have become a spectacle, which is somewhat embarrassing.
The Rainbow Coalition in Formula 1: A Select Club
“The rainbow coalition in Formula 1 is a select club,” says Nelson Valkenburg, a commentator for Viaplay and a columnist who openly identified as gay in 2001. “The fact that we are discussing this indicates how select this coalition is and how little we have to do with it,” he states. “The ‘news’ about Ralf was seen on all the news broadcasts. Proportionally, there must have been more homosexual drivers. The fact that we are now discussing it means that it is still considered special.”
The Impact of Schumacher’s Coming Out
According to Valkenburg, Schumacher’s coming out could be a great support ‘when you are a 14-year-old karter’. “For a boy or girl of that age, it is very important that a race winner in Formula 1 says that it is okay to be gay or bisexual. Coming out is very liberating, I know from experience,” he shares.
Schumacher as an Attraction in the Paddock
Yet, Schumacher seems to be a sort of attraction in the paddock of the Hungaroring, as sad as it may be. Many bystanders take photos when he gives an analysis for Sky Germany. Valkenburg comments, “‘Look, that’s the gay one,’ many people probably think. “That means there are still many steps to be taken. Fortunately, the backlash on social media was minimal. You can’t avoid it, but there was also a lot of love. I think Ralf looks back on the past week very positively.”
