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LEWIS HAMILTON has heard “mind blowing” stories about Saudi Arabia’s shocking human rights record including a 14-year-old on death row.And the seven-time world champion says he’d be open for talks to make positive changes.
Lewis Hamilton wants to see changes made from people in positions of powerCredit: Alamy
F1 races in Jeddah this weekend, just 112 days after the country staged its debut GP in December.
Back then, Hamilton spoke out about the regime and said he “wouldn’t say” he was comfortable being present in Saudi.
Ahead of Sunday’s race, he was quizzed about reports of 81 people being executed on March 12, with the death toll expected to reach 500 by the end of the year.
He said: “My position is still the same as I spoke last year. There is not really a lot that I can say that is going to make any difference.
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“It is obviously mindblowing to hear the stories. I have heard there is a letter that has been sent to me, for example, from a 14-year-old that is on death row.
“At 14, you don’t know what the hell you are doing in life.
“We don’t decide where we go [to race]. We are duty-bound to try and do what we can while we are here. It is not necessarily our responsibility but we try and do what we can.
“I think it is important we try to educate ourselves and with a little bit of difference, we can try to make sure we are doing something.
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“But ultimately, it is the responsibility of those that are in power to really make the changes and we are not really seeing enough. We need to see more.”
Hamilton has been prominent in raising social issues and says he would be willing to speak to the Saudis to address their human rights.
He added: “It shouldn’t be our responsibility to have to do that but it is obviously a very, very complex situation.
“I am always open to having a discussion, to learning more and trying to understand exactly why the things that are happening are happening and why they are not changing.
“It is 2022, it is easy to make changes. But I am open to doing that. I don’t know who I would have to speak to exactly but I would love to see that.
“I know that Boris [Johnson] was over here recently. I heard that human rights were raised but what was said, what is being done, I have not heard about that.”
Hamilton took a third place finish in Bahrain after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez retired.
His Merc is prone to ‘porpoising’ sending the car up and down and banging on the ground when it hits top speed.
He is hoping for a smoother ride this weekend in Jeddah but admits the high-speed straights could leave him with a headache.
He said: “It shouldn’t be as bumpy as Bahrain, which is a much older circuit and has got more character to it because it is as old as it is.
“This track is super fast but a different surface that’ll behave with the tyres differently.
“These long, long straights might not be too fun with the bouncing if we still have it.
“But those that have the bouncing are in the same boat and hopefully we will try and fix some of it.” More

SEBASTIAN VETTEL is OUT of the Saudi Arabia GP as he continues his recovery from Covid.Nico Hulkenberg will take the four-time world champion’s place for the second race of the season, just like he did for the opener in Bahrain.
Hulkenberg will continue in the Aston Martin car for the start of the seasonCredit: Splash
Vettel is continuing his recovery from coronavirusCredit: PA
A statement from the Aston Martin team read: “#SaudiArabianGP Update: @HulkHulkenberg will practice, qualify and race alongside @lance_stroll.
“Despite lack of mileage in the #AMR22, Nico coped well in Bahrain and we are sure he will do likewise in Jeddah.
“We expect Sebastian Vettel to be fit for the #AustralianGP.”
Hulkenberg finished 17th in the Bahrain GP – last place aside from those who failed to finish.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The 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His team-mate Lance Stroll faired a little better than the German but still struggled to get to grips with the new car.
He eventually secured 12th place – meaning Aston Martin failed to pick up any points.
It was a statement weekend for Ferrari who bossed both qualifying and the race.
Charles Leclerc took victory from pole position and he was helped to a one-two by team-mate Carlos Sainz.
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Lewis Hamilton clinched an impressive place on the podium following a difficult weekend in the Mercedes car.
But it was a nightmare start for Red Bull as both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez suffered reliability issues inside the final three laps – ending their hopes of a top three finish.
The Saudi Arabia GP made its debut in F1 last season as Hamilton won the race ahead of Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas.

🏁 F1 2022 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info More

LEWIS HAMILTON is officially one of Formula 1’s most penalised driver’s of the last decade.The Brit may have won seven world titles, but he’s also no stranger to racking up a penalty fine or two from the F1 stewards.
F1’s most penalised drivers in the last 10 years
Hamilton is No7 on the list for most penalised drivers between 2011 and 2021Credit: Getty
A study carried out by Money.co.uk shows Hamilton as the seventh most penalised driver between 2011 and 2021.
The Brit has cost McLaren and Mercedes £51,400 in fines during that time.
Although Hamilton did move to Merc in 2013, meaning they are the ones who have picked up the majority of the bill.
The bulk of Hamilton’s grand total came just last year, with the 37-year-old costing Mercedes £41,000 in 2021 for his two offences.
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F1.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-h98a3b{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}RACE AGAINST TIME .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Vettel poised to miss Saudi GP as he’s yet to return negative Covid test
He was slapped with a mammoth £21,000 fine for undoing his safety belts after winning in Brazil last November.
But he’s nowhere near as guilty as former Williams and Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado.
The Venezuelan is the highest offender on the list when it comes to money he’s cost his team – £108,200 from just three penalties.
And that was just between 2011 and 2015.
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Max Verstappen also makes it onto the list of the most penalised drivers of the last 10 years, despite only being in the sport for six of those.
In total the reigning F1 world champion has accumulated close to £42,000 worth of fines.
Elsewhere four-time world champ Sebastien Vettel has racked up a cool £54,400 worth of offences over the years.
With veteran Kimmi Raikkonen starting a whopping 349 races across the period, before retiring at the end of last season, the Finnish driver was always going to be on the list.
Although surprisingly despite starting more races than any other driver, his £50,000 worth of fines only make him the ninth most penalised driver from 2011-2021.
Raikkonen though is the most serial offender in the table, with 11 penalties to his name.
The closes to him is Segio Perez’s seven offences, resulting in £94,200 worth of fines and earning his place as the second most penalised driver in the last decade. More

SEBASTIAN VETTEL is a major doubt for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as he’s still testing positive for Covid.The German returned a positive test ahead of last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix and was forced to miss the first race of the season.
Sebastian Vettel is a doubt for the Saudi Grand Prix as he’s still testing positive for CovidCredit: PA
Nico Hulkenberg could end deputising for his countryman againCredit: EPA
Aston Martin were hoping a negative test would clear Vettel to take part in the second race of the campaign.
But the former Ferrari star has yet to turn one in – meaning Nico Hulkenberg could end up filling in for him again.
An Aston Martin statement read: “Sebastian Vettel has not yet returned the required negative COVID test to fly to the #SaudiArabiaGP.
“Nico Hulkenberg will be in Jeddah to deputise for Seb if necessary.
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“We will delay our final decision until Friday to provide Seb every opportunity to race.”
Hulkenberg hadn’t set foot in a race car for over a year before filling in for his countryman.
He said: “Just in the last 24 hours – I got called out of bed pretty much yesterday morning, got the news, packed up, and got going.
“I think it’s obviously a bit of an interesting situation again, so yes, I’m just going to take it lap by lap, session by session.
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🏁 F1 2022 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info
“I haven’t been in the car for five, six days [of pre-season testing], so it will probably take a few laps to get some of the rust off me and I’ll just take it easy and take my time to get used to it again.”
Hulkenberg finished in 17th place in the opening race of the season in Bahrain, which was won by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
The 34-year-old said of his performance: “It was interesting. It was difficult, very difficult to be honest – first time [racing] obviously in a long, long time.
“There’s so many things happening in the race, it’s so dynamic, the car balance is changing, the fuel load is changing, so it’s difficult to keep up with all these changes and stay on top of things.
“So, it was difficult. I didn’t really have one big mistake – I think I out-braked myself once trying to overtake someone and from then onwards it seemed to get a bit more difficult for me.
“But yes, it was always going to be tough to expect much more than that.” More