Lewis Hamilton said that after the terrorist assault on October 7, it has been challenging for him to carry out his duties as a Formula 1 driver in light of the carnage in Gaza caused by Israel and Hamas’ battle.
Ten times as many Palestinians as Israelis have died as a result of the highly denounced Israeli reaction to an assault by Hamas on settlements just over the border from Gaza.
After winning 38 of the five races that have followed, Hamilton was questioned whether he had considered it within the F1 bubble. The race was taking place 1,300 miles away from the unrest on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula when he arrived in the United Arab Emirates for the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“Absolutely, I mean, how can you not?” Hamilton told the media, when asked if he looks at what’s going on in Gaza. “I think it’s been a very strange period for us, because we are in such a bubble here.
“We arrive at all these different places, and there’s so much positivity in our little bubble. And I think this year has been really hard to wake up each day knowing that there are thousands of kids dying and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Hamilton criticises government reaction
Israel’s retaliation against civilians, the largest military build-up in the Palestinian conflict since the Yom Kippur War in 1973, has provoked demonstrations throughout the globe, with half a million people reportedly taking to the streets in London.
Even the possibility that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix might be postponed surfaced, but Formula One said that, barring a significant development in the Middle East, it always intended to proceed with the event.
Finally, a ceasefire has been agreed upon and is set to begin on Friday AM. However, Hamilton also entered the discussion criticizing the diplomatic community’s tardiness in responding.
“The rest of the world just goes on as it is and it’s massively disappointing to see how countries and governments are handling it,” Hamilton added.
“And just to think where we are in 2023, with everything, through history, doesn’t look like we’ve learned anything. And so to be able to compartmentalise that and just go ahead with your job, I think is difficult.
“It’s all over social media, there’s not a moment, not a day that you don’t see something pop up on the news. And you’re just trying to remain positive through the darkest time.”
