HIS older brother Michael is considered by many to be the greatest F1 driver of all time.
But Ralf Schumacher, who is himself a six-time Grand Prix winner, was never one to live in the shadows of success – instead forging a remarkable life of his own, on and off the grid.
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Ralf Schumacher, then of Williams, is hugged by his brother Michael after winning the Canadian Grand Prix in 2001Credit: AFP
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Ralf announced he was in a gay relationship in a moving post this weekCredit: instagram.com/ralfschumacher_rsc/
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He was previously married to Cora Schumacher, a former racing driver and Playboy modelCredit: AP:Associated Press
This week, the 49-year old announced that he is in a same-sex relationship, becoming just the second male F1 driver to publicly come out as a member of the LGTBQ+ community.
On Sunday, he posted a touching photo of himself gazing at the sunset alongside another man on Instagram, with the caption: “The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.”
His new love is Frenchman Etienne, who was working as Ralf’s business manager when the pair fell in love.
After the former Williams driver’s brave post, he was immediately greeted with an outpouring of love online, as many rushed to congratulate the pair.
His close pal, actress Carmen Geiss, replied: “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.”
Married for 14 years to Cora Schumacher, a former racing driver and Playboy model, Ralf previously hit the headlines when his notorious fling with Katie Price allegedly sparked the breakdown of her engagement.
Meanwhile, his close relationship with Michael, 55, was reportedly tested by tension between their wives, and rocked further by the German legend’s tragic skiing accident.
Last year, Ralf lamented the 2013 incident, which has left his brother with severe brain injuries, with news of his health remaining a closely-guarded secret over the past decade.
