Lewis Hamilton maintains stance on racing in Saudi Arabia | Motorsport

sport">The Mercedes driver stated in December last year, before the first race in Jeddah, that it was not his choice to race in the much-discussed country. “My opinion is still the same. It’s terrible to hear some of the stories,” said the British driver.

sport">Hamilton has also learned that a letter was sent to him by the family of Abdullah al-Howaiti, a young man arrested at 14 and recently sentenced to death again. “It is a very complex situation. But it’s also 2022. It should be easy to make a difference. It is mainly the responsibility of the people in power, but not enough has happened yet. I think it’s important to learn more about certain things and to understand why situations don’t change. I am open to discussion.”

sport">Hamilton agrees with the words of Mercedes teammate George Russell and Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), among others, that Formula 1 is also in a position to make a positive impact. “We have the opportunity to at least try to change something, even if it is something small. It is not our choice to go here.”

sport">Russell added: ,,It’s worrying to see what’s happening in some places. I hope that by racing here we can raise awareness. That Formula 1 can say in thirty or forty years that we have made a positive change in the community.”

sport">The Dutch branch of Amnesty International also called on world champion Max Verstappen on Friday to speak out about the situation in Saudi Arabia, as the human rights organization already did last December.

sport">Also listen to the Formule 1-podcast with Christijan Albers and Erik van Haren:

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