Lewis Hamilton distanced himself on Thursday from System One rivals who mentioned they felt comfy to be racing in Saudi Arabia this weekend.

The Briton, a seven-times world champion and System One’s most profitable driver, selected his phrases fastidiously however left little doubt about his stance.

Attending an official FIA information convention in Jeddah, drivers have been requested how they felt about returning after final yr’s missile strikes by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis on an oil facility close to the circuit.

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll mentioned they trusted organisers to maintain them protected, with the latter including he felt the nation was altering.

Purple Bull’s Sergio Perez mentioned he was joyful to be again.

Hamilton, who has spoken out beforehand on human rights points, mentioned his view was “extra the other”.

Requested to make clear, the 38-year-old mentioned his place was “open to interpretation”.

“I am wanting ahead to getting within the automobile for certain,” he added.

Requested whether or not that is perhaps the automobile to the airport, Hamilton added: “No, I am wanting ahead to driving the automobile right here. The observe is fairly superior…in order that a part of my job I am enthusiastic about.”

The Mercedes driver final yr expressed shock at mass executions, mentioning a letter to him from a youth going through the dying penalty.

Requested if he had thought-about not racing in Saudi Arabia, Hamilton replied: “If I am not right here, System One will proceed on with out me.

“I nonetheless really feel that as a sport going to locations with human rights points akin to this one, the game is obligation certain to boost consciousness and attempt to go away a optimistic impression. I really feel prefer it must do extra, what that’s I haven’t got all of the solutions.”

Human rights charity Reprieve mentioned the mom of Abdullah al-Huwaiti, who faces a dying sentence for crimes dedicated when he was a minor, had written to Hamilton asking him to say her son whereas the world was watching.

Reprieve director Maya Foa mentioned there had been at the least 13 executions in Saudi Arabia previously two weeks.

“Finishing up these executions on the eve of the Jeddah Grand Prix is a brazen show of impunity by the Saudi authorities, assured that the game and its industrial companions will keep silent, and that the pageantry of F1 will distract from the bloodshed,” she mentioned in a press release.

Saudi Arabia denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its nationwide safety by way of its legal guidelines.