Drivers given assurances about security at Saudi Arabian GP

System One is again in Saudi Arabia this weekend, one yr after a missile strike hit an oil depot close to the monitor throughout race week.

And whereas the drivers expressed confidence of their security forward of Sunday’s race, seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton once more broached the topic of human rights points within the kingdom.

Drivers have been given assurances by F1 that elevated security measures will stop the race from being impacted like final yr, when Houthi rebels from Yemen hit a depot solely 11 kilometers (seven miles) away throughout the first observe session. The assault led to hours of talks between drivers, organizers and stakeholders however the race went forward.

The missile strike got here two weeks after 81 individuals had been put to demise in Saudi Arabia in a mass execution — the biggest within the kingdom’s fashionable historical past. In response to Reprieve, a non-profit group defending individuals going through human rights abuses, an extra 16 executions had been then carried out.

Saudi Arabia is certainly one of a number of international locations accused of “sportswashing,” utilizing high-profile sporting occasions to distract from human rights abuses. Others embrace Bahrain, which held the season-opening F1 race two weeks in the past, and Qatar, which hosted soccer’s World Cup final yr and likewise has an F1 race.

Drivers had been requested about returning to Jeddah given final yr’s missile strike.

“We belief FOM (System One Administration) and the group to maintain us protected,” French driver Esteban Ocon mentioned. “Clearly, it was scary what occurred final yr and none of us needs to ever expertise one thing like that.”

Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll echoed that, saying he was “assured that System One and the group goes to take care of us,” whereas Pink Bull rival Sergio Perez mentioned he trusts “the organizations that deliver us right here to compete in a protected place.”

They spoke Thursday at a scheduled pre-race information convention. However when it got here to Hamilton’s flip to talk, he mentioned his view was “all the alternative to every thing they mentioned.”

The Mercedes driver was then requested if he is comfortable to race in Saudi Arabia.

“It’s open to interpretation,” Hamilton mentioned. “Hopefully everybody has a protected weekend and hopefully everybody will get dwelling protected afterwards.”

Pressed once more, Hamilton was requested whether or not he thought of not racing in Saudi Arabia due to human rights considerations.

“Nicely, the factor is, if I’m not right here, System One will proceed with out me. Once I’m going to those totally different locations, I nonetheless really feel that as a sport go(ing) into locations with human rights points, comparable to this one, I really feel that the game is obligation sure to elevate consciousness,” Hamilton mentioned. “I really feel prefer it must do extra. What that’s, I don’t have all of the solutions, however I believe we at all times have to try to do extra to boost consciousness.”

The household of Abdullah al-Howaiti, who’s going through the demise penalty after being arrested in 2017 when he was 14, wrote to Hamilton this week thanking him for talking about their son throughout final yr’s race.

“You publicly introduced consideration to Abdullah’s case, and we’re immensely grateful to you for utilizing your for platform to shine a lightweight on the injustice he faces,” the household wrote within the letter, which Reprieve shared with The Related Press. “We can not put into phrases how a lot it meant to our household to know that Abdullah will not be forgotten.”

CULLEN’S DEPARTURE

Hamilton parted methods Friday with long-term efficiency coach Angela Cullen after seven years working collectively.

Hamilton introduced the cut up on his Instagram web page.

“I’m a stronger athlete and a greater particular person due to her,” Hamilton wrote. “Thanks for every thing Ang, I can’t wait to see what the longer term has in retailer for you.”

Identical to two weeks in the past on the Bahrain GP, Hamilton was cleared by stewards to participate within the two observe periods on Friday after a jewellery inspection.

Hamilton clashed with governing physique FIA final yr over a jewellery ban and obtained an exception for his nostril stud.

VERSTAPPEN AHEAD

After profitable the Bahrain GP, two-time defending world champion Max Verstappen topped each observe periods for Pink Bull.

The Dutchman, who arrived a day late due to a abdomen bug, led P2 from Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and his Pink Bull teammate Sergio Perez beneath floodlights.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was ninth and Hamilton eleventh.

Earlier, Verstappen led P1 from Perez and Alonso — the identical 1-2-3 from the Bahrain race — and Alonso’s teammate, Lance Stroll, was fourth. George Russell positioned fifth for Mercedes forward of Hamilton.

P3 is on Saturday forward of night qualifying.

FERRARI QUESTIONS

Ferrari is already fielding questions concerning the automobile’s reliability after Charles Leclerc retired close to the top of the Bahrain GP due to engine failure when he was in third place.

Leclerc will begin Sunday’s race with a 10-place grid penalty after Ferrari used a 3rd electronics management unit on the automobile’s engine.

Final yr, engine reliability issues pressured Leclerc to retire when main the Azerbaijan GP and the Spanish GP.

Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. completed fourth on the Bahrain GP and was 48 seconds behind race winner Max Verstappen’s Pink Bull automobile.

“We’re the primary ones that aren’t comfortable,” Sainz mentioned. “We’ve confronted points with race tempo and reliability that we actually didn’t anticipate to face.”

Ferrari modified the ability items on each automobiles Friday as an extra precaution.

Kimi Raikkonen received Ferrari’s final drivers’ title in 2007.

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