F1 driver gay
LGBT+ History Month: Mike Beuttler - Formula 1's only known gay male driver
Mike Beuttler raced against many of the all-time Formula 1 greats in the early s - and then disappeared.
Even the British driver's closest motorsport friends heard nothing from him over the final 14 years of his life.
Then, in late , they learned from his family that he had died in Los Angeles of Aids, aged
Beuttler remains the only known male lover male driver to contain competed at the top level of motorsport.
He did so at a day when F1 was an especially macho environment. James Hunt, the world champion, famously had the group of words, 'Sex, the breakfast of champions' embroidered on his overalls and many drivers had reputations for entity womanisers.
There were no organisations such as Racing Identity festival, which launched in to promote LGBT+ inclusivity in motorsport.
So how did his friends view him?
"Mike gave it absolutely everything on track - he wasn't a natural talent but he worked hard," former motorsport journalist and companion Ian Phillips told BBC Sport.
"I knew he was gay, but it didn't matter in my world."
The racing world of the s is a very different
With the Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix on this weekend, we look support at the history of gay drivers in the sport.
When former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher came out last year, it made world headlines.
He was one of the rare known gay drivers in the sport&#;s year history.
However, Ralf and others often came out in retirement or never truly at all.
These are the four F1 drivers who were both open and closeted during their careers and lives.
Mário de Araújo Cabral
Portuguese driver Mário de Araújo Cabral competed in F1 during the s and 60s.
He raced just four times but as the first Portuguese driver to race in the sport.
His best result was 10th at the Portuguese Grand Prix of and it was the only race he actually finished.
In , Mário came out as bisexual much later in life at the age of 75 . He sadly passed away in August agd
Mike Beuttler
Mike Beuttler was a British F1 driver from to
He raced 28 times and although he never made the podium he did finish in the to 10 six times.
His best result was 7th at the Spanish Grand Prix of
Mike was never publicly out but it was known among his close circles.
Friend and motorsport journalist Ian Phillips told the BBC
Meet the Only Four Openly LGBTQ+ F1 Drivers in History
On July 14 , German and former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher made F1 history by becoming the fourth openly Gay driver in the sport. But he’s not the only one to possess broken barriers in Formula One. From past drivers to more recent figures, the number of out LGBTQ+ drivers in Formula 1 remains small but significant. So, who are these trailblazing drivers, and what are their stories?
What To Know?
LGBTQ+ Representation in F1 – Only four drivers in Formula 1 history have publicly reach out as LGBTQ+: Ralf Schumacher, Mike Beuttler, Mário de Araújo Cabral, and Lella Lombardi. Their journeys highlight both progress and challenges in motorsport.
Key Figures & Their Stories – Ralf Schumacher recently came out, receiving widespread assist. Mike Beuttler was semi-closeted during his career, later moving to the U.S. before passing away in Mário de Araújo Cabral came out as pansexual at 75, while Lella Lombardi, the only lady to score F1 points, lived openly as a lesbian.
F1’s Progress & Legacy – These drivers broke barriers in a traditionally conservative sport. Their stories continue to inspire inclusivity in
Ralf Schumacher: Former Formula 1 driver comes out as gay in post on social media
Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has announced he is in a same-sex relationship.
In a post on Instagram on Sunday evening, Schumacher mutual a message with a picture of himself and his partner, Etienne, with their arms around each other.
The image showed the pair looking out to sea at a sunset and included the caption: "The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything."
Schumacher, who is the younger brother of seven-time F1 champion Michael, won six grands prix in a race career in which he raced for Jordan, Williams and Toyota between and
He was previously married to Cora, with whom he has a son David,
David Schumacher, himself a racing driver, wrote on Instagram in reply to his dad's post: "I am very happy that you have finally create someone with whom you really feel that you feel very comfortable and secureI am per cent behind you dad and wish you all the best and congratulations."
Schumacher now works as an F1 pundit for Sky in Germany.
The only other acknowledged male gay driver in F1 history was the late Briton Mik
.