Saudi F1 promoter discussed human rights with drivers

Donna Miller

The inaugural Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia will happen in Yeda later this yr as a part of a ten-year settlement for the nation to host an F1 race, with a view to transferring to the brand new metropolis of Qiddiya sooner or later.

Nonetheless, the choice to rejoice a race in Saudi Arabia has drawn criticism from organizations reminiscent of Worldwide Amnesty, which has affirmed that the occasion “is a part of the continuing efforts to sportively launder the nation’s appalling human rights file.”

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has already pointed to the “large drawback” surrounding human rights in a number of the nations wherein F1 competes, and spoke with Bahraini officers in regards to the matter earlier this yr.

The promoter of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and president of the Saudi Federation of Motorsports and Motorcycling, Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al FaisalHe stated he could be pleased to debate these issues “not simply with Lewis Hamilton, with anybody, in regular individual phrases, or with the media.”

“I met a few riders at Silverstone,” Prince Khalid revealed Monday in a choose media assembly together with Motorsport.com.

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“I can’t give their names, however Lewis Hamilton was not one among them. I addressed their issues and spoke with them overtly.”

“I instructed you, pay attention, I’m not going to inform you something, come to Saudi Arabia and also you’ll see, and if you wish to come right here earlier than the race, you’ll be able to come and choose for your self.

“No matter I say about my nation, you higher come and see for your self, meet with the native folks, after which you’ll be able to have your opinion.”

“Certainly you may have buddies from groups which have come to Components E or Dakar. You possibly can ask them, and so they can provide their opinion.”

“They’ll come and have the chance to see our nation freely, after which they will say their opinion about our nation, as a result of we’re certain of how we’re progressing and the place we’re going. So we’ve no drawback (discussing it).”

Saudi Arabia has been internet hosting a rising variety of main worldwide sporting occasions lately, together with a Components E occasion in Advert Diriyah since 2018 and the Dakar Rally since 2020.

F1, by means of its We Race As One program, has made the sequence extra numerous and inclusive because the starting of the 2020 season, in addition to highlighted different vital social points.

Requested by Motorsport.com On what the web race is doing with F1’s We Race As One program, Prince Khalid stated they had been “working carefully” to “align with our missions.”

“As of now, issues are progressing very nicely between us,” he stated.

“That is a part of our technique, in Saudi Arabia, to open up our nation.”

“We need to reveal the standard of life for anybody, the Saudis or anybody visiting Saudi Arabia. This can assist us obtain our objectives.”