Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher is reportedly engaged to his partner, Étienne Bousquet-Cassagne, less than two years after publicly coming out.
The news has been picked up by several European outlets and is already being widely shared among fans, particularly those who followed Ralf’s quiet but powerful coming-out moment in 2024.
Ralf, now 50, first confirmed his relationship last summer by posting a romantic photo with a caption about having the right partner by your side.
It was a simple post, but it landed with weight — especially in the world of motorsport, where openly gay stories are still relatively rare.
According to reports, the couple are planning a wedding celebration in Saint-Tropez in May 2026, described as a multi-day event.
If true, it sounds like a joyful and unapologetic celebration of love, visibility, and a new chapter.
Étienne Bousquet-Cassagne, who is reportedly 36, has been increasingly visible alongside Ralf since his coming out, with the couple appearing together at public events and on social media.
For many LGBTQ+ readers, there’s something quietly meaningful about seeing a story like this unfold in a space that hasn’t always felt welcoming.
Because this isn’t about shock or headlines.
It’s about someone choosing to live honestly — and being allowed to do so.
Ralf Schumacher has spent most of his life in the public eye, both because of his own Formula 1 career and because he is the younger brother of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.
His personal life has often been the subject of speculation, and his coming out inevitably reopened conversations about identity, expectations, and reinvention later in life.
Ralf was previously married to Cora Schumacher, and they share a son, David Schumacher, who has followed his father into motorsport.
In recent coverage of the reported engagement, Cora has been quoted offering well wishes to Ralf and Étienne — a small but notable moment of grace in a situation that has at times played out very publicly.
This doesn’t need to be framed as dramatic or controversial.
This is simply what it looks like when someone gets to keep growing, loving, and choosing happiness on their own terms.
If the reports are accurate, congratulations are absolutely in order.
And for queer sports fans who don’t often get stories that end in softness and commitment, this one feels especially worth celebrating.
📷 IG: @ ralfschumacher_rsc / etienne_bousquet