Ralf Schumacher has given his reaction to the warm reception he receiꦛved after announcing that he is in a same-sex relationship.

On Sunday, Schumacher took 🔯to Instagram to an❀nounce his relationship, posting a picture of him with his boyfriend, Etienne.

Under the initial post he wrote: “The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you c𒉰an share everything.”

Since then, the six-time F1 race winner posted another picture thanking everyone for tꦡheir support and comments.

H𒀰e wrote: “Many thanks for the many coཧngratulations and comments. We are very happy and thank you all.”

A spokesperson of the Schuma🦂cher family has also released a statement to the German media after the positive reaction.

It noted that both men were “overwh♑elmed”🐽 by the response.

The statement said: “Ralf and Etienne are over🤡whelmed by t🅷he great response from around the world, nobody could have expected that.”

Schumacher’s coming out makes him the first LGBTQ▨+ driver in F1 since Mike Buettler and Lella Lombardi.

Ralf - who is the younger brother of seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher - retired from the sport at the end of 20🦄07.

Since then, he’s been ജa vocal TV pundit in Germany♓.

1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villenueve declared he was “very happy” for Schumache🍒r.

He’s quoted as saying: “This𝓀 is great news for Ralf, I am very very happy for him and I can’t imagine how difficult all t🔜hose years must have been having to carry the weight of hiding.”

1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill - who was famously teammates with Schumacher at Jordan - took to X to giveಌ his response to the news: "Mate, I never r﷽eally clicked with Ralf, but I'm happy he's happy. 

"Sincerely, we get our knickers in a twist about sexuality. It's not a choice you either are or you aren't one way or another. As long as there is love꧂ and respect, it's cool. 'Whatever gets you through the꧟ night' Lennon."