Lewis Hamilton urges F1 to ‘do more’ to make ‘people feel comfortable’ after Ralf Schumacher came out as gay – despite the German previously criticising the Mercedes star’s actions to support the LGBTQ+ community

Lewis Hamilton has called on Formula 1 to “do more” to “make people feel comfortable” after Ralf Schumacher came out as gay.

Ralf, the brother of racing legend Michael Schumacher and who himself competed in Formula 1 from 1997 to 2007, made his relationship with French businessman Etienne public on Instagram.

The 49-year-old wrote: “The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything,” their relationship was later confirmed by their mutual friend and German actress Carmen Geiss.

He was married to his ex-wife Cora Schumacher for 14 years, until the couple split in 2015. His 22-year-old racing driver son David expressed his full support for his father online.

Hamilton has been vocal about social issues throughout his career. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, he supported Schumacher and challenged his sport to move forward.

His words came after former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher came out as gay on social media

Ralf, pictured with partner Etienne, wrote in a social media post: ‘The best thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything’

“It’s clear that he hasn’t felt comfortable saying that in the past,” Hamilton said. “It’s certainly not new, it just shows that we’re in a time where you can finally take that step and not be afraid.

‘But within sport there is still a long way to go. It’s one thing to say it’s inclusive, but it’s another thing to make sure people feel comfortable in the environment.

“This is a male-dominated space, and as far as I know he’s one of the first to speak out about that publicly.

‘We’re very inclusive within our team, but the sport needs to continue to do more to make people feel more comfortable and make women feel more welcome in this space, because I know they’ve not always been treated well. So we need to do more.’

Hamilton has shown his support for the LGBTQ+ community in the past by wearing a rainbow helmet in Qatar and Saudi Arabia to promote inclusivity.

Schumacher, who works as a Formula 1 analyst for German television, had previously criticised the move.

“His values ​​are very important and he can express them on Instagram and other social networks – the question is why he always has to do that in a Mercedes suit and on the race track,” Schumacher said Sport1‘It may polarize, but it should not provoke aggression.

‘If you as a driver focus too much on certain things, then that is dangerous and the sport does not deserve that.

“I am absolutely convinced that sport and politics should not be mixed. And if they were, it is certainly not the job of the drivers,” he added later.

Hamilton previously warned against helmets with a rainbow flag during races in Saudi Arabia and Qatar

Schumacher is the brother of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael (left)

The Briton added this week: ‘I’ve only heard positive feedback from people and I think that’s because of the times we live in.

‘I think it all started when Seb and I were on the grid and fighting against what the government was doing here.

‘When I wore a helmet in Saudi Arabia and Qatar and then Ralf said it wasn’t a good idea to do that, maybe he has changed his mind now and is sending a positive signal that he has taken that step.’