Rumours that the German-language arm of Sky Sports could boycott next weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix are wide of the mark. It is understood that Sky Germany’s Formula 1 coverage will go ahead as planned, though regular pundit Ralf Schumacher will not travel to Jeddah.
Online rumours in recent days had suggested that the broadcaster could boycott the fifth round of the 2025 F1 championship. Such a move would supposedly have been made in support of Schumacher, who came out on social media last year.
Homosexuality is illegal in the Gulf country and next weekend’s race is the first time F1 has raced there since Ralf, a six-time F1 race winner and brother of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, revealed that he is in a same-sex relationship.
The 49-year-old is one of the lead pundits on Sky Germany’s coverage. But he is not expected to travel to Saudi Arabia for the race and instead will stay with lead commentator Sascha Roos in Germany to cover the event remotely.
However, as first reported by PlanetF1, it is understood that the decision for Schumacher not to travel was made for budgetary reasons, rather than the laws in Saudi Arabia. And, contrary to online speculation, Sky Germany will cover the event as planned.
When Schumacher came out last July, he instantly became one of the foremost LGBTQ+ figures in all of motorsport. Prior to him, Lella Lombardi and Mike Beuttler were the only F1 drivers who had made their sexuality public.
Schumacher’s social media post sparked a wave of support from key figures in the sport. Lewis Hamilton, who has regularly used his platform to campaign for equality, including by racing in Saudi Arabia with rainbow colours on his helmet, hailed the “positive message” that the German former racer had sent.
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“Clearly [Schumacher] has not felt comfortable to say it in the past,” said Hamilton. “It’s definitely not a new thing, it just shows that we are in a time where finally you can take the step and don’t have to fear. But within sport, there is still a long way to go.”
Schumacher’s ex-wife Cora, however, spoke out to say she had been blind-sided by the announcement. “I wish Ralf had included me or at least let me be part of his decision. It would have been a sign of respect,” she said. Ralf and Cora split in 2015 and have a son, David, together.
But that prompted Schumacher to snap back publicly by posting a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation with his former spouse which appeared to show she was aware of his relationship with a man.
And in the caption he wrote: “With all the back and forth, I would like to make it clear that Cora congratulated us in September 2023 because she thought we had gotten married. I think it’s a shame for Etienne and me that she spreads so many lies. We both just want to be left in peace.”
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