Formula One fans have dug up old comments from Ralf Schumacher where he criticised Lewis Hamilton’s activism on the race track as ‘dangerous’ after the former driver had announced that he was gay on social media.
In the past, Hamilton has used his platform to help raise awareness on a variety of matters, notably having been outspoken on the Black Lives Matter movement and having also been a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. He has also been seen wearing a Progress Pride helmet with a rainbow printed on it at several races in the Middle East.
Schumacher, meanwhile, made the surprise announcement on social media that he was gay on Sunday, posting a picture of himself arm-in-arm with his French business manager Etienne on Instagram.
He added the caption: ‘The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.’
But some on X (formerly Twitter) have criticised the 49-year-old after they had unearthed comments he had reportedly made, per Sport1 back in 2021, claiming that Hamilton’s activism around the track was ‘polarising’.
Fans on social media have dug up old comments made by Ralf Schumacher where he called Lewis Hamilton’s activism around the Formula One track as ‘dangerous’
Hamilton (pictured) has previously warn helmets with a rainbow flag on them at races in Saudi Arabia and Qatar
The comments came after Schumacher (pictured) announced that he was gay on Sunday
‘In 2021, Lewis Hamilton went to countries that opposed LGBT rights and stood up because he felt that “he had [a] duty to help people”,’ X user @tracingpoint wrote on the social media platform.
‘Today, Ralf Schumacher has come out as gay but in 2021, he called Hamilton’s activism dangerous and that Formula 1 “doesn’t deserve that.” ‘Shameless.’
Hamilton has previously worn a helmet with a rainbow printed on it during several race meets in the Middle East, to promote greater inclusivity. He also wore the helmet when he won the 2021 Grand Prix in Qatar.
The British driver has also previously been seen wearing a T-shirt that had the message: ‘Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor,’ printed on it at the Tuscan Grand Prix in 2020. Taylor, a 26-year-old woman, was killed by plain-clothed police officers who were executing a ‘no-knock’ search warrant at her home in Louisville, Kentucky.
Some hit back at the comments criticising Schumacher’s previous statements with one writing ‘This is not the take’
Ralf, pictured with partner Etienne, wrote in a social media post: ‘The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything’
Back in 2021, Schumacher had picked up on Hamilton’s decisions to raise awarness on social causes during race weekends.
‘His values are very important and he can represent them on Instagram and in other social networks – the only question is why he always has to do it in a Mercedes suit and at the racetracks,’ Schumacher told Sport1.
‘It can 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 firmly convinced that sport and politics should not be combined. And if they were, it is certainly not the drivers’ job,’ he later added.
But some fans have hit back at those taking to social media platforms to dig up Schumacher’s comments.
‘I will always applaud Lewis Hamilton for standing up for those who have less rights because it shows he’s brave and he fights for a better world,’r @Carlitossnation said on X (formerly Twitter).
‘Ralf Schumacher was also very brave by coming out considering that it’s very unusual in this sport. They’ve both been brave. Shut up.’
‘This is not the take,’ another X user added, while another added: ‘Can we not? Right now at least?’ in response to criticism over Schumacher’s 2021 comments.
Hamilton has also shown his support for the Black Lives Matter movement, wearing a shirt that had the statement: ‘Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor’ on it at the Tuscany Grand Prix
Hamilton has also spoken out on his decision to wear helmets that have a rainbow printed on his helmet
Hamilton has previously spoken out on his decision to have a rainbow printed on his helmet during the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix.
‘It’s always good and well raising awareness for things, but it is more about the work that is done in the background and the conversations you continue to have,’ he said to the BBC, speaking on advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.
‘And it’s such a big machine to shift. It is a whole country that is very young. It has taken the West a long, long time to get to where they are.
‘All we can do is try to be positive when we come to these places and take the opportunity – that’s why I continue to wear the flag here.’