MANAMA, (Reuters) – Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton yesterday urged Formula One to do more to push for human rights, saying the issue was a “massive problem” in some of the sport’s host countries.
The Mercedes driver was speaking ahead of Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix, a race that regularly draws criticism from rights campaigners.
“Naturally, the human rights issue in so many of the places that we go to is a consistent and a massive problem,” the Briton told reporters, arguing that all sports should use their platforms to seek change.
“We are probably one of the only ones that goes to so many different countries and I do think as a sport we need to do more,” he said.
Hamilton, who has used his global standing and celebrity to campaign for diversity and racial equality, said he had received letters forwarded by Sayed Alwadaei, director of the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD).
“I’ve not had a lot of time to digest them so that’s something I definitely need to take some time to do over the coming days,” he added.
