At a regular press event before the start of the training session, seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton drew attention to the appalling human rights situation in the country rather than taking the risk.
The 37-year-old British rider said he was urging changes to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record as soon as there was a day in the Arab country where he carried out 81 executions within 24 hours.
It is not our decision to directly compete in this country. However, we feel compelled to speak out against the unacceptable situation currently prevailing
– Hamilton quotes on behalf of SkySports.
As is known, Saudi Arabia has had an unprecedented human rights record for many years.
The leadership of the state makes freedom of expression completely impossible, demonstrations are considered crimes, and the participants in them are immediately imprisoned.
The bailiffs are also not ashamed of harsh torture methods while in custody.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia ranks first in the world in terms of the number of executions, many of which are carried out in public.
Lewis Hamilton also declared at his first grand prix in Saudi Arabia last year that he was not feeling well in the country due to the scandalous social problems. He added in a press conference on Friday that he believed he could not change the current situation on his own, but if given the opportunity, he would also be open to meeting the country’s leaders in person and speaking in front of them.
We are writing 2022. This situation is not normal. There is no such thing as not being able to change that
Hamilton said.
Formula 1 management has come under heavy criticism for signing a long-term contract with the Arab country to host the Saudi Grand Prix in the future.
The F1 Saudi Grand Prix kicked off on Friday and ends with a race on Sunday night.
(Cover Image: MTI)
