Lewis Hamilton disagrees with rival drivers and speaks about social issues at F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: “Hopefully everyone has a safe weekend”
Last year, the race was oversha✤dowed by a missile strike on the Friday carried out ꦜby a group on a nearby oil depot - the drivers required a crisis meeting before being convinced to race on.
Extra security has been brought in this year and a pep talk to enc🅷ourage the drivers was “well received”, reports, but Hamilton was vocal about the issues that remain.
After multiple drivers backed F1’s decision to return to Jeddah, Hamilton said: “All the opposite to everything they said. I didn’t elaborate so it’s open to interpreꦑtation.
“I am looking forward to getting in the car, for sure. The track is pretty awesome, I look forward to the challenge of whether we are close or further behind. Tha♉t siౠde of my job, I’m excited about.”
The Mercedes driver was asked if he was worried by the politics or the safety issues of bꦕeing in Saudi Arabia, and replied: “I don’t want to get into either.
“Hopefully everyone has a safe𓆏 weekend and gets home safely after. That’s all we💝 can do, right?”
Hamilton was questioned if 📖he ever considered refusing to return to Jeddah after last year’s missile strike.
“I𒁃f I’m not here, F1 will continu♊e without me,” he replied.
“So I try to learn as much as I can. I feel like, as a sport, going to places with human rights issues, such as ꧙tܫhis one, the sport is duty-bound to leave a positive impact and raise awareness.
“Wඣe need to do more. I don’t have all the answers.”
What did other F1 drivers say?
168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Kevin Magnussen said: “Last year was pretty special. None of us enjoyed it. It’s a different situation now. A ceasefire between the two parties involved last year. That gives🎃 us confidence.”
168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lance Stroll saไid: “I trust that F1 are looking after us. The country is changing, evolving.”
168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Sergio Perez: “I am happy to be back. As a💟 sport we can help the country evolve for the people who live here. We trust the organisations who bring us here.”
168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lando Norris: “I am happy we’re racing her♑e. What we’re doing is a good thing. Not worrie🌠d about anything.”
168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Carlos Sainz: “They have given us enough explanation ♚that we are in a safe place. I am confident they are not lying to us, and they are putting on safe events. Every year the fanbꦍase is growing so we need to try to enjoy our stay here.”
Valtteri Bottas and Yuki Tsunoda refused tౠo comment when asked.
J🍌ames was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for ൩a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
