Ralf Schumacher is in a relationship with his business manager, a close friend of the two has revealed. This comes just hours after the former Formula 1 driver and brother of seven-time world champion Michael came out as gay in a social media post on Sunday.
Ralf, 49, shared a photo of himself and another man, arms around each other, watching the sunset over the ocean, with the touching message: ‘The best thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.’
The surprise announcement from the former racing driver turned entrepreneur and pundit was met with an outpouring of congratulations and well-wishes from fans and members of the motorsport community.
But German actress Carmen Geiss, a close friend of the couple, said that Ralf had been in a relationship for two years. She named his partner Etienne, a Frenchman who worked as Ralf’s business manager when they fell in love.
“They met in Monaco. Ralf lives in Salzburg with his son, Etienne lives in Nice. But the two are together quite often,” Geiss said, adding that the couple are “sensationally happy” and “have never had a fight or a dispute.”
Ralf Schumacher is in a relationship with his business manager, a close friend of the couple has revealed
Etienne is seen on a yacht in Monaco harbour during a Formula 1 race weekend
Geiss, 59, said she and her husband Robert have been regularly invited to visit Ralf and Etienne since their love affair began two years ago
The company boss is said to have met former Jordan, Williams and Toyota driver Ralf in Monaco
Ralf, 49, shared a photo of himself and another man with their arms around each other, accompanied by a touching message that read: ‘The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything’
Etienne is pictured in a winery in this image shared on social media
Etienne divides his time between Cape Town in South Africa and the city of Nice on the French Riviera, just 30 minutes from Monaco, home to many past and present members of the glittering F1 paddock.
There the manager is said to have met former Jordan, Williams and Toyota driver Ralf. The two began working together, with Etienne handling the former driver’s affairs.
But it’s unclear when their relationship transitioned from professional to personal.
Geiss, 59, said BILD that she and her husband Robert have been regularly invited to visit Ralf and Etienne since their love affair began two years ago.
“Robert and I are very happy for Ralf and Etienne. It’s finally over, it’s just great that they are living their love now,” she said.
Her interview with BILD took place a few hours after the actress responded to Ralf’s post on Sunday with a heartfelt message of support.
“I LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH,” she wrote.
“You have the best partner, Etienne, that you could ever imagine. After two years, you can finally show your love to the world. I have known Ralf for over 25 years and he has always been a great joy to me.
‘Always a liberal, a kind-hearted person whom I can call day and night and above all he has always been honest with me about his position.
‘I am happy that I could be part of this love and I am even happier for the two who sought and found each other. Because I also love Etienne very much.’
The news about Ralf’s homosexual relationship comes almost ten years after he divorced his ex-wife Cora Brinkman in 2015.
The couple were married for 14 years. They married in 2001 and divorced nine years ago. They also have a son, David, who took to social media yesterday to express his support for his father.
“I’m so happy that you finally found someone who you feel truly comfortable and safe with, regardless of whether it’s a man or a woman,” wrote the 22-year-old, who is also a racing driver.
“I’m behind you 100 percent, Dad, and I wish you the best and congratulations.”
Cora, now 47, had her own racing career, competing in various classes and championships. She also built a separate career in show business as a model, television presenter and actress.
She is best known for her participation in German television programs such as Top of the Pops, Mareinhof and Alarm Fur Cobra 11 – Die Autobahnpolizei, and since the break with Ralf she has had a profile on the adult platform OnlyFans.
The pair remained close after their split, with Ralf congratulating his ex-wife on joining the cast of the German version of I’m a celebrity get me out of here in January 2024.
The news about Ralf’s homosexual relationship comes almost ten years after he split from his ex-wife Cora Brinkman in 2015
Cora, now 47, had her own racing career, competing in various classes and championships, and also built a separate career in show business as a model, television presenter and actress
The 47-year-old former Playboy model also joined the adults-only platform OnlyFans
Michael Schumacher is pictured next to his brother Ralf in 2006
Michael Schumacher crashed into a boulder in the Alps in a freak skiing accident in December 2013
Ralf no longer has close contact with Michael and his wife Corinna, but says he is always there to offer support
Although Ralf himself had a remarkable career in Formula 1, his achievements were always overshadowed by those of his brother Michael, who was a seven-time world champion and is widely regarded as one of the greatest racing drivers of all time.
The siblings had a close relationship throughout their careers, but Michael has not been seen in public since his death suffered serious brain injuries in a brutal skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013.
That incident prompted the notoriously secretive Schumacher family to shield the stricken star from the outside world. A select group of people are now allowed to visit him, on the condition that they do not divulge any details about his condition.
Ralf no longer has close contact with Michael and his wife Corinna, but says he is always there to offer them support.
“When I see his children Gina-Maria and Mick, my heart starts to smile,” Ralf told German magazine Bunte in November, describing his distant relationship with the family.
“If anyone in the family seeks my advice, I’m there. They go their own way.”
The former F1 driver admitted: ‘I miss the Michael of the past. Life is unfair sometimes. Michael has been very lucky in his life. But then there was this tragic accident.’
Ralf, who won six Formula 1 Grand Prix, stressed that Michael was more than just his older brother.
He told local media: ‘Michael wasn’t just my brother. When we were kids, he was also my coach and mentor. He literally taught me everything about kart racing.’
Ralf said: ‘There may be a seven-year age difference between us, but he was always by my side. We raced together, we practiced overtaking manoeuvres and everything that matters in motorsport.’
The former Jordan and Williams driver underlined: ‘He passed on all the different things that he had already internalised. I had the honour of learning from the best.’
Ralf sums up Michael’s plight and adds: ‘Fortunately, advanced medical science offers many possibilities. But nothing is as it was.’