Driver gay
Vettel: F1 is ready for an openly queer driver
Sebastian Vettel says Formula 1 is ready for an openly gay driver, something he believes would help to speed up the elimination of prejudice and shove the sport "in a better direction". The four-time World Champion, who stands third on the list of all-time Grand Prix wins, will be the cover star of the July/August edition of Attitude , the world's best-selling gay magazine. He will join David Beckham and Adam Peaty among the list of Attitude 's straight cover stars, described as an "LGBTQ ally" by the magazine in which he has used his platform to claim action from Formula 1 to combat prejudice.
Vettel has witnessed negativity towards LGBTQ in Formula 1
Vettel says he has indirectly witnessed individuals in the society of Formula 1 speaking "negatively" about the LGBTQ community, prior to gaining the confidence to address up against such comments. "I've not seen it directly, but indirectly I've heard people talking negatively about LGBTQ people and the LGBTQ community," he said, speaking in the upcoming edition of the magazine. "Whenever I heard those things it always felt wrong, but today I'm more confident to speak
'It's important for the future': Openly gay NHRA driver prepares to make history
Any number of things should have stopped Travis Shumake.
Nearly two years ago, Shumake had planned his debut into the frenetic, high-octane nature of National Hot Rod Association drag racing as the governing body's first openly gay driver.
As the son of NHRA Amusing Car drag-racing legend Tripp Shumake, the younger Shumake had grown up in that world, having attended drag races each summer at the Kansas Speedway and racing shifter karts with his father in the late 1990s.
In the decades since his father died in a 1999 motorcycle accident, though, something kept calling Shumake back to the sport — help to following in his father's footsteps.
So he started driving.
"I came in 18 months ago thinking I’d be a world champion, driving the fastest cars on the planet," the Phoenix native said. "Things were just going to arise my way.
Nothing since has gone his way.
First, he crashed during a November Funny Car qualifying event in Las Vegas, ripping his mentor Randy Myer's car in half. Shumake escaped that crash with just two cracked ribs, although he had raced well enough to complete his licensin
Ralf Schumacher: Former Formula 1 driver comes out as gay in post on social media
Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has announced he is in a same-sex relationship.
In a post on Instagram on Sunday evening, Schumacher mutual a message with a picture of himself and his partner, Etienne, with their arms around each other.
The image showed the pair looking out to sea at a sunset and included the caption: "The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything."
Schumacher, who is the younger brother of seven-time F1 champion Michael, won six grands prix in a 180-race career in which he raced for Jordan, Williams and Toyota between 1997 and 2007.
He was previously married to Cora, with whom he has a son David, 22.
David Schumacher, himself a racing driver, wrote on Instagram in retort to his dad's post: "I am very glad that you have finally found someone with whom you really feel that you feel very relaxed and secure...I am 100 per cent behind you dad and wish you all the best and congratulations."
Schumacher now works as an F1 pundit for Sky in Germany.
The only other known male queer driver in F1 history
Former Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher comes out as gay
The former Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher has come out as same-sex attracted, becoming the most high-profile driver in the sport’s history to do so. Schumacher, brother of the seven‑time world champion Michael, made the announcement on social media.
Schumacher made the announcement on Instagram on Sunday night with a picture of himself and his French business manager, Étienne, watching a sunset with their arms around one another. “The most beautiful thing in animation is when you own the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.”
Schumacher did not make any explicit statement but affirmation came from comments made by his friend, the German actor Carmen Geiss, on her post. “I want to tell you about a person who plays a very distinct role in my being. For many years I have known and admire him infinitely,” she wrote.
“Today he confessed his homosexuality. This step was an act of liberation and self-acceptance for him. It was a courageous conclusion that has matured in him for a elongated time and one he is now full of pride and confidence.”
The 49-year-old German drove for Jordan, Williams and Toyota in 180 F1 races wager
.