Lewis Hamilton was a notable dissenter as other Formula 1 drivers said they were happy to race in Saudi Arabia again following the missile strike which occured nearby during last year’s race weekend.
An oil plant 10 kilometres from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit was struck by a missile during the first practice session for last year’s race. The event went ahead following a crisis meeting between drivers and the series bosses which ran late into the night before qualifying.During today’s FIA press conference several drivers said they were satisfied with the arrangements put in place for them to race in Saudi Arabia this weekend. “We trust FOM and the organisation to keep us safe,” said Esteban Ocon.
“Obviously it was scary what happened last year and none of us wants to ever experience something like that. But we trust everybody around to put us in a safe situation to race.”
“In the other hand we also fully trust the organisations that bring us here to compete in a safe place.”
However Hamilton dissented from the views expressed by his fellow drivers in the same session. “Not much really to add,” he said. “All the opposite really to everything they said.”
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The seven-times world champion said he left his comments “open to interpretation”. Asked whether he was concerned about his safety on the track or in the region, Hamilton said: “I don’t want to get into either.
This weekend’s event in the third in a 15-year deal F1 has to race in Saudi Arabia. Speaking in another session, other drivers said they were satisfied with the reassurances they’ve been given about their safety while visiting the country.
“I’m happy we’re racing here,” said Lando Norris. “I think Formula 1 and what we’re doing as a sport is a good thing so I’m not worried about anything.”
Carlos Sainz Jnr said F1 and the authorities have “given us enough reassurances and enough explanations to say that we are in a safe place right now.
“As my understanding goes I need to guide myself by that. Time will tell but I’m confident that they obviously are not lying to us and they are putting together a safe event.
“Honestly, I think it’s a great circuit for Formula 1 and every year the fan base keeps growing. So I think we need to try to enjoy our stay here and enjoy the race as much as possible.”
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2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
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- FIA president Ben Sulayem under investigation for interfering in F1 race – report
- Two races, no points: How 2023 compares to McLaren’s worst starts to a season
- Don’t complain about Red Bull dominating F1, they deserve it – Sainz
- Alfa Romeo identify “massive debris” which ruined Bottas’ race
Leroy (@g-funk)
16th March 2023, 16:59
Yeah F1 and the drivers are having a lot of positive impacts on Saudi Arabia…
This happened just a few days ago.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/03/08/saudi-arabia-law-enshrines-male-guardianship
RPbdos
16th March 2023, 16:59
I know many on this site probably think there shouldn’t be a race at Jeddah but I honestly think it is one of the best tracks on the calender. If some drivers feel uncomfortable about racing there I am sure they are plenty reserve drivers willing to fill in.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
17th March 2023, 9:01
It’s not about the track, man.
wsrgo (@wsrgo)
16th March 2023, 17:08
Lewis must really miss Seb, man…
BasCB (@bascb)
17th March 2023, 8:02
More likely he is pretty certain that the FIA president would use those new rules against him if he did speak his mind, especially in this place @wsrgo
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
16th March 2023, 17:21
Good on Lewis 👍
It’s hard to imagine anyone genuinely happy with doing much of anything in Saudi Arabia.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
17th March 2023, 9:01
I won’t be heading there any time soon…
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
16th March 2023, 17:33
So long as Saudi is paying Liberty enough money, then nothing else matters.
It will be a wonderful race and everyone will enjoy it.
Stefano will make that clear after the race, don’t worry, everything is fine.
petebaldwin (@)
16th March 2023, 17:54
Well done Lewis. F1 being in Saudi Arabia won’t make a single thing even remotely better for those living there. If anything, it makes the situation worse as the ruler’s behaviour becomes normalised and accepted by the wider world.
Jack
16th March 2023, 17:55
Isn’t the best form of action to simply not take part in the weekend?
Elvira
17th March 2023, 3:16
Why don’t you do a few years in the lower categories, win at least one of them, luck into an F1 seat and then see if you think it’s tenable to take that particular moral stand.
All of the rest have been gagged and LH is making the most amount of noise with his own hand over his mouth and his lawyer gesticulating wildly alongside the cameraman.
RicoD (@ricod)
16th March 2023, 18:33
Is it the “preventing experssion” directive kicking in or the departure of Seb, but I have not heard anything on the human rights situation in Bahrein at the first GP. Here at the Saudi GP it’s hardly any better…
Jason Blankenship (@jblank)
16th March 2023, 18:56
He doesn’t have to race. He is totally free to sit it out and let someone else drive the car. I am so tired of his whining.
Adrian Hancox (@ahxshades)
16th March 2023, 19:04
Written by an expert on whining of course.
Jason Blankenship (@jblank)
16th March 2023, 19:22
Hardly, but as a typical Hammyfan, you can’t stand any bit of criticism of your hero.
Adrian Hancox (@ahxshades)
16th March 2023, 20:07
You are so wrong – not even close to a “Hammy Fan” as your simple vocabulary puts it, are you so blinded by your hatred that you overlay it upon others comments?
some racing fan
16th March 2023, 22:21
Actually- he has to. He is contracturally obligated to race in every race in the championship barring injury or illness.
bull mello (@bullmello)
16th March 2023, 23:27
@jblank – What if a missile struck closer by the race track? And nobody said anything? Are you pro-Saudi? Or just anti- “Clown Ham”?
Sorry, most of the time being pro-F1, pretty much not calling drivers names. Some drivers are not my favorites, but not making myself bigger than them or calling them names.
Hope your day is good.
Elvira
17th March 2023, 3:17
I’m already tired of yours.
Palindnilap (@palindnilap)
16th March 2023, 19:32
The Saudi GP will be the first F1 race I will not watch since a loooong time. Not that I expect that it will make any difference and that anybody cares what I do. I have done so much bashing about the Qatar world cup that I would now be a hypocrite if I was watching this.
Good on Hamilton. It is a bit unsavory to hear drivers explain that it is perfectly fine to race in a country where journalists are tortured and killed, now that they are 100% sure to be safe themselves.
bull mello (@bullmello)
16th March 2023, 23:29
Well said @palindnilap
delphi
17th March 2023, 3:19
+1
JezH79
17th March 2023, 7:07
+1 it is ridiculous to make the F1 drivers answer questions like “if they are happy to be back and feel safe” – knowing fully well they aren’t free to speak their minds anymore. F1 is really selling out and pushing it’s luck.
superman
16th March 2023, 19:46
He could have made the ultimate statement and simply refused to go!
GT Racer (@gt-racer)
16th March 2023, 21:04
Truthfully you won’t find many in the paddock who really want to be there and if drivers were more willing and able to actually speak their minds you wouldn’t hear much positivity about the track either.
Most of what you hear from drivers and team bosses now are points they are told to say rather than what they actually think and drive to survive has only made that worse as there is a lot of playing to those cameras now.
Virtually everything that is said and done Infront of cameras and microphones in these conferences and on the pre race programming over the weekend is something thats been gone over and approved and it’s sad just how bad that has got now. It’s always been an element of the media circus but now it’s the predominant element.
bull mello (@bullmello)
16th March 2023, 23:32
This true @gt-racer
This track is worrisome in different ways. The country it is in, and the track itself is rather dangerous, but it still races on. That is too bad.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
17th March 2023, 0:00
Exactly that. Perez’s comments are so blatantly spoon fed.
BasCB (@bascb)
17th March 2023, 8:05
Yeah, the biggest change from last year if the “anti political talking” thing, apart from some changes to the track that might take some of the dangerous parts away.
A bit of a sad state of affairs to find F1 in.
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
16th March 2023, 21:31
The fact their even talking about safety probably suggests they shouldn’t be there… Last year I was genuinely concerned for the entire paddock’s safety and I’m kind of bewildered they went back. But then again, money!
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
17th March 2023, 0:01
Like Colin Murray says, if it’s sport and it makes no sense, then the answer is money.
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
16th March 2023, 21:32
*they’re. I’m so sorry….
some racing fan
16th March 2023, 22:23
Good on Lewis. This GP is an abomination and it should not continue under any circumstances. I might watch the highlights but absolutely NOT the full race- no one should watch the full race.
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
16th March 2023, 22:44
I’m far from a lewis fab but good on him for raising this. Having lost some of the more outspoken drivers it’s good he’s using this platform.
Red Andy (@red-andy)
16th March 2023, 23:21
You’ve got to wonder why they even put Lewis up for the FIA press conference in the first place, if they want to push the narrative that Everything Is Fine Now and everyone loves being here.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
17th March 2023, 4:36
Where’s the nose ring the removal of which may cause disfigurement?
Wayne
17th March 2023, 5:49
Why am i reading almost every comment about Lewis? What of the other drivers that have rather chosen to toe the line, pull the blanket over their head, bury their head in the sand. Why are there no comments about those drivers? Hypocrites! Too many silver spooned people in this world.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
17th March 2023, 9:04
Good luck to all the drivers this weekend at ‘The Bonesaw Circuit’, as it is affectionately known.
I hope they all make it home safely and in one piece.
Pironi the Provocateur (@pironitheprovocateur)
17th March 2023, 12:09
I fully agree with Hamilton and I admire he rose from the crowd of yesmen, but I can’t understand how can he, in some other interviews, praise Domenicalli. That man is a talking head of a soulless corporation and as long as the money flows, he doesn’t seem to be troubled with anything.