Ralf Schumacher has revealed he is in a same-sex relationship.
The 49-year-old German, who won six grands prix over a decade-long career in Formula 1, shared a picture of him and a man who is believed to be his partner with their arms around each other.
The caption below the post on Instagram reads: “The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.”
Schumacher is the younger brother of seven-time world champion Michael, who drove for Jordan, Williams and Toyota in an F1 career which ran from 1997 to 2007.
The younger Schumacher brother competed in a total of 180 races and secured 27 podium finishes.
In October 2001 he married Cora-Caroline Brinkmann, a former model, in a private ceremony at their home in Hallwang, Austria.
The Schumacher brothers in 2006. Pic: Reuters
Later the same year the couple’s son, David, who is now a racing driver currently competing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters with Mercedes-AMG team Winward, was born.
Commenting on his father’s Instagram post, 22-year-old David 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 [it is] a man or a woman, I am 100% behind you dad and wish you all the best and congratulations.”
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Carmen Geiss, a German TV personality, businesswomen and friend of Schumacher, also replied, writing: “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.”