Former F1 Racer Ralf Schumacher Responds to Heartwarming Messages of Support after Coming Out

Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher expressed his gratitude to friends, family, and fans for the loving swell of support he received after coming out in an Instagram post last weekend.

Schumacher sent out a July 16 followup, posting a photo of himself with boyfriend and business manager Étienne and writing, "Heartfelt thanks for the many congratulations and comments."

"We are very happy, and thank all of you," Schumacher added.

The coming out post, which Schumacher made on July 14, had showed the couple watching a sunset over the ocean with their arms wrapped around each other.

"The most beautiful thing in life is when one has the right partner at his side with whom one can share everything," Schumacher captioned the romantic image.

Schumacher's public embrace of authenticity is groundbreaking, with the racer being only the second F1 racer to come out.

"The only other known male gay driver in the history of Formula One was the late Briton Mike Beuttler, who raced from 1971 to 1973 and died in 1988," CNN recalled.

The 49-year-old "won six grands prix in an 11-year career that ended in 2007," CNN added. "He was previously married to Cora, with whom he has a son, David, 22."

The coming out post garnered a host of supportive messages, including a quote in English attributed to Andre Braugher's "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" character, Captain Holt, that read, "Every time someone steps up and says who they are, the world becomes a better, more interesting place."

Echoing that message, another posted: "Every time someone is brave like this, the world becomes a better, safer, more beautiful and complete place for us all. Thank you!"

Another posted simply: "Congratulations Ralf, you slaaaay".

Among the congratulatory messages was a note from Schumacher's son, David, who posted, "I am very happy that you have finally found someone with whom you really feel that you feel very comfortable and secure."

"I am 100% behind you dad and wish you all the best and congratulations," David (who, like his father, is a race car driver) added.

The 49-year-old former driver is the "younger brother of seven times world champion and Ferrari great Michael," CNN noted. The motorsports community showed up to give the couple its best wishes, with Racing Pride, a group for queer racing fans, posting the comment "Love is love and love is beautiful," while the Formula 1 team Mercedes (for which Michael Schumacher drove) showered the couple with emojis.

Among the messages of support that greeted Schumacher's coming out post was a fan's hopeful wish for the future: "So happy that you can live your truth openly; hopefully there is a future where someone can do that while they're still racing at the top level."