Unlike many of his colleagues, Lewis Hamilton remains dubious about F1 visiting the likes of Saudi Arabia, in terms of personal safety and human rights issues.

Other than the existing concern over Saudi Arabia's record on human rights, drivers have expressed fears of terrorism, with the beginning of last year's race weekend literally overshadowed by smoke from a local oil depot following a missile attack which left F1 bosses and the FIA having to hold crisis talks with the teams and drivers in a bid to avoid a boycott.

Speaking as this year's event got underway, most drivers believe that the necessary steps have been taken to ensure safety, however, seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton remains uneasy with the event.

"None of us enjoyed it," admitted Kevin Magnussen, "but I think it's a different situation now, a different protocol and there's a ceasefire between the two parties that were involved last year so that gives some confidence."

"I'm happy to back," added Sergio Perez. "As a sport I think we are able to also help the country to evolve for the people that are living here. This is something as a sport we can be proud of, on the other hand we fully trust the organisations that bring us here to compete in a safe place."

"We've had a meeting with the FIA, and obviously the people involved in government for our securities," said Charles Leclerc. "There have been some improvements, and obviously they are pushing quite a lot on that after seeing what happened last year."

"Although I can't speak for the other 19 drivers, generally I think we're happy and have no concerns with the changes that have been put in place ahead of this year," said George Russell.

"I think there were a lot of lessons to be learned from what happened twelve months ago," he added, "and Formula 1 have really stepped it up. Not just in regards of what's happening here in Saudi but for all of the grand prix we go to."

However, teammate Hamilton doesn't agree. Asked for his thoughts, the Briton replied: Not much really to add... all the opposite to everything they said.

Asked to elaborate, he said: "I didn't elaborate on it so it's open to interpretation. Hopefully everyone has a safe weekend and hopefully everyone gets back safe afterwards, that's as much as we can do, right?"

In terms of the human rights issues, he said: "What I try to do is try to learn as much as I can when I go to these different places. I still feel as a sport going to places with human rights issues, such as this one, I feel that the sport is duty bound to raise awareness and try to leave a positive impact.

"I feel like it needs to do more," he continued. "What that is, I don't have all the answers. We always need to do more to raise awareness for things people are struggling with."

Check out our Thursday gallery from Jeddah here.

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 18/03/2023 1:26

"@Hobgoblin.....The sites name tells you all you need to understand. The true essence of what one discusses here is primarily F1 and other related motorsports in addition to good natured banter from time to time between intelligent others. That is my observation as an individual. It is not a venue for social/political or any other minority agendas to relentlessly prosecute. I have no problem with people being free to express any opinion that they so desire....in the appropriate medium and that's not F1. The attempt to apply the 'cancel culture' to anyone who dares question those minorities is simply not on in my book and I reserve the right to voice that opinion. My apologies to the Ed. if I appear to be wrongly informed but this is simply my personal observation."

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by ZJAY, 17/03/2023 18:09

"@BrightonCorgi
“
How about virtual races in a make pretend country with unicorns and rainbows?"

Literally coming soon to a screen near you. I will not be surprised if it happens in 2024. BTW didn’t they try it during Covid first year?"

Rating: Negative (-1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by alvarezh3, 17/03/2023 15:03

"@ Kenji

It's the correct behavior not to make comments against a country that has opened its door to you while you have your feet on their land. That's an ethical issue that he has chosen to deal with, he is free to do so and also free to face any consequences by the countries' authorities, if there are any."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by alvarezh3, 17/03/2023 14:49

"@didaho

The topic here is about activities being seen by the people on the stands or the TV viewers taking place inside a F1 track, not events unrelated to F1 and occurring outside the racetrack premises that no person on the stand can see nor that are not televised during the F1 race."

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by Hobgoblin, 17/03/2023 13:01

"@Slumlord - couldn't have said it better!
I find it amazing that some on here 'who are only here for the racing' are the most vocal critics of any driver that makes comment anything other than racing. You would think that if they 'are only here for the racing' they would just scroll past these articles.
It is almost as if they are only here to denigrate anyone who disagrees with their closeted little view of the world..."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

6. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 17/03/2023 12:18

"Name a country that doesn't have something negative about it going on? The F1 calendar is full of countries that could improve, but so what.

How about virtual races in a make pretend country with unicorns and rainbows?"

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

7. Posted by didaho, 17/03/2023 5:54

""We the viewers also have our right to not be forced to observe any other activity"
Make sure to send your list of rights to the guys that set the bombs off last year too."

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

8. Posted by slumlord, 17/03/2023 4:50

"im not a big lewis fan, but why dont some of you grow some. at least the guy has the courage to say whats right, whether it upsets a few armchair critics or not. when your country is the one murdering and chopping up people in the press for reporting the truth, maybe you will hope somebody says a word or 2 in your behalf. prolly not though huh."

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

9. Posted by kenji, 17/03/2023 3:55

"@Alvarezh3..When you are invited to someones house for dinner you do not denigrate the hosts or their cooking. At least thats what I was taught.....plus using a political cause to mask social ineptitude is easy to see through."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

10. Posted by alvarezh3, 17/03/2023 3:06

"@kenji

Yep! probably is as you state it.

Just a few hours away from some track action!"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

11. Posted by kenji, 17/03/2023 0:57

"@Alvarezh3....I agree with 99.9% of what you just said. Obviously the media plants were there to stir things up and allow one driver to get a negative comment in. I saw that as a possible test run for the future. He could've always said 'no comment, see me back at the hotel when the days work has been completed'.The other drivers were more circumspect and treated the matter as most intelligent and mature adults would. Drivers are guests of a foreign country, common decency should prevail."

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

12. Posted by alvarezh3, 16/03/2023 21:25

"That is how I believe it should be done; Lewis was questioned on human rights and he freely gave his opinion.

To manipulate the sport event to introduce activities to expose whatever his personal agenda is on the issues he decides to impose on the viewer who is into a sport activity is not the way, I am with the FIA on that.

We the viewers also have our right to not be forced to observe any other activity than that that we pay for.

One thing is a person's right to freedom of speech and another is assuming that they are entitled to organize activities that have nothing to do with F1 during the event.

So Lewis, if you are continuously being asked for your opinion on any issue what so ever during the F1 race, as far as I am concerned, you should continue to freely say as you wish."

Rating: Positive (3) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Hamilton at odds with colleagues over Saudi Arabia

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page