Lewis Hamilton says Ralf Schumacher has sent a “positive message” which he hopes “liberates others” after the former F1 driver announced he is in a same-sex relationship.
But Hamilton also believes F1 and sport in general still has a “long way to go” to keep improving inclusion.
Schumacher, a winner of six Grand Prix during a decade-long career and who remains involved in the sport as a leading TV pundit for Sky in Germany, posted on Instagram last Sunday an image of himself with his partner, Etienne, with the message: “The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.”
Hamilton, a prominent figure in attempts to improve diversity and inclusion in motorsport over recent years, was speaking on media day ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian GP, the venue where in 2021 the Mercedes driver and Sebastian Vettel spoke up for the LGBTQ+ community against a law limiting the teaching in schools about homosexuality and transgender issues.
The seven-time champion has almost worn helmets with the rainbow flag on at the Qatar and Saudi Arabian GPs, countries where same-sex relationships are banned.
“I think clearly he’s not felt comfortable being able to say it in the past and it’s definitely not a new thing, so I think it just shows that we are in a time finally where he can take that step and not have the fear,” said Hamilton.
“So far I’ve heard only positive feedback from people, and I think that’s the time we’re living in and the change we are. And that all started from Seb and I standing on the grid here, fighting against what the government’s doing here, and when I was wearing a helmet in Saudi and Qatar.
“You know, Ralf said that it’s not a good idea to do those things. Perhaps, today, he may have shifted his mind.
“Even him taking that step will send such a positive message and liberates others to be able to do the same.”
Six-time F1 race winner Ralf Schumacher is now a pundit for Sky in Germany
‘We have to 100 per cent do more’
Asked if F1 was now a place where people could be themselves, Hamilton said: “Within sports, I think it still has a long way to go.
“There is one thing saying that it’s inclusive and there’s another thing actually making sure people actually feel comfortable in the environments.
“This is a male-dominated space and as far as I know he’s one of the first to at least publicly be speaking in that respect.
“We are very inclusive within our team, but I think the sport does need to continue to do more to probably make people feel more comfortable, make women feel more welcome in this space because I know they’ve not always been treated well in this space.
“So we have to 100 per cent do more.”
Lewis Hamilton wore a rainbow-coloured helmet at Qatar Grand Prix in 2021
Hamilton believes continued open dialogue with all stakeholders is the key to continuing to making steps forward.
“Off the top of my head I’m not going to come up with a solution because I don’t have the solution. But I do know that more often than not it is about conversations, it is about dialogue, key stakeholders,” he said.
“It’s about analysing how the accessibility is. It’s about getting information from people who do or don’t feel included, engaging the community.
“So you could do a questionnaire for every single person that’s here with a few questions that ask them honestly how they feel and what they feel that could be done.
“There’s a lot that you could do. But it is firstly speaking about it and rather than ignoring that is an issue or having it bottom of the priorities, they should bring it up and actually set some people a task.”
‘We all feel good for him as well’ – drivers welcome Schumacher’s announcement
A number of other F1 drivers were asked on Thursday about Schumacher’s decision to come out, and said they were pleased for the 49-year-old.
McLaren’s Lando Norris said: “It’s a good thing. The same with every sport, when people are happier and consider their life a bit more in a good way without hiding things and feeling like people will say bad things and attack them.
“So from an inclusivity and diversity point of view, I know Formula 1, McLaren, we’ve pushed for it a lot over the last three-four years especially, the whole world kind of moved in that direction, and whether it’s this or talking about mental health and all these things, you just want people to live their life and be happy and not feel like they’re going to be judged.
“So very happy for him.”
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso, who like Hamilton raced against Schumacher in the 2000s, said: “Congratulations to him. Total support from my side and I’m sure all the F1 community. It’s great that he feels good and we all feel good for him as well.”
While Daniel Ricciardo added: “I definitely do prefer the times we are in now. For someone to have the comfort to be themselves, ultimately.
“That’s all what we’re trying to do in this world, to be yourself, and I feel for people who maybe feel like they can’t and express themselves fully. You want to live your life to the fullest.”