Why Ralf Schumacher’s announcement is so important.
The head of communications at Aston Martin, Matt Bishop tells this story.
“ I remember when Little Britain came out and I felt I was the only gay in the F1 village, he says. I did get some homophobia, most of which was said behind my back, but there was one driver whom I won't name who called me the "fat faggot" habitually and to my face.'
Bishop counts Alex Wurz and Kevin Magnussen as the drivers who became his two closest friends in Fl, with his study proudly displaying helmets gifted by both men. His friendship with Wurz began when the Austrian, who is now chair of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, made it clear he would not tolerate such abuse.
“I was walking down the paddock and I heard "faggot" and then "fat faggot" and I saw the driver who was saying it, Bishop recalls. 'T walked on and he carried on repeating it. Alex Wurz saw this. He walked over to the driver and spoke to him loudly, saying, "You may think you are making Matt Bishop look like a cunt, but the only person you are making look like a cunt is yourself," and he walked away. I was so chuffed. Afterwards I went to Alex and thanked him. He said, "Don't worry," and that was the beginning of our friendship.'
Now Alex Wurz was a full time driver between 1997-2000. Ralf Schumacher between 1997-2007. That was the kind of environment he was in.
The fact he feels comfortable enough to reveal this, when he will still be in the paddock, still on camera, still reporting on the sport. His son and nephew are still actively driving. It all shows that hopefully/thankfully the F1 paddock is a much more accepting place. Racing Pride is not just a tick box equality exercise.
Whilst we should never assume we are entitled to know an individual’s sexuality, we should all believe people have a right to live in the way they feel comfortable.
Except from F1 Racing Confidential by Giles Richards
