F1 Rumours: Lewis Hamilton Won’t Return To Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton wasn’t shy about his feelings towards the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and while he didn’t say he wasn’t going to return, he hinted at this while fans of the sport complained about the F1 driving there.
Following the missile strike on the Friday before the race weekend, social media became swamped with fans questioning why the race was still going ahead. This, on top of the existing human rights issues of the country being discussed, could be considered the straw that broke the camel’s back.
According to reports, team bosses were happy for the race to go ahead, but judging by the four-hour long drivers meeting that stretched into the early hours of the Saturday, the sport’s drivers weren’t entirely on the same page. They were finally persuaded to race, but it’s safe to say Lewis wasn’t happy with this outcome.
Max Verstappen took home his and Red Bull’s first win of the season after an incredible and strategic drive with Charles Leclerc coming second, followed closely by Carlos Sainz. Lewis Hamilton ended his weekend in 10th after a poorly timed virtual safety car, with his teammate George Russell finishing 5th.
Lewis commented on his performance, while admitting that he wanted to go home:
“I am so happy the weekend is done and I am also just so happy that everyone is safe.
“I am looking forward to getting out.”
he was then asked about whether he was interested in returning to the country, he said: “I just want to go home.”
Him not answering the question obviously hints at him not wanting to return, especially after it was reported that he was sent a letter from a 14-year-old boy sat on death row in the country.
“It’s mind-blowing to hear the stories. I’ve heard there has been a letter sent to me from a 14-year-old who is on death row,” Hamilton told the press at the time.
“When you are 14, you still don’t know what the hell you are doing in life.”
Lando Norris of McLaren also gave his opinions on coming back to the country, admitting that while it’s a “nervous place”, he enjoys the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
“Of course I am relieved [to have got through the weekend],” he told the press.
“Under any circumstance all we want to do is race. But it is a nervous place to be and you are going to have these nerves and that is why we had the discussions we did. We were given the reassurances and told it is safe and we had to believe that.
“Whether we come back or not – I would love to look forward to do that because it is a fun track, but those are discussions we will have after the weekend.”
