Lewis Hamilton has never been afraid to speak out on major social and humanitarian issues. In recent hours, through a story on Instagram, the seven-time world champion wanted to express his concern about what is happening in the Gaza Strip, sharing very strong words that capture a tragedy now out of control and that requires maximum media exposure. A gesture that fits into Hamilton’s constant commitment, which often sees him use his popularity to give visibility to causes far beyond the borders of Formula 1.
“The situation in Gaza is getting worse day by day. In the last two years, more than 10% of the population has been killed or injured — including tens of thousands of children — and that number continues to grow. The most recent raid on Gaza City has forced hundreds of thousands of people to leave their homes, with hospitals along the Strip already overwhelmed between those suffering from famine and the victims of bombings that seem to never end. Today, a UN commission of inquiry has described what is happening in Gaza as a genocide. As human beings, we cannot stand by and allow all this to continue.”
Clear words, focused on a single term, genocide, which few have the courage to use and which underline the urgency of not remaining indifferent. Hamilton, just like Sebastian Vettel in the past, shows himself to be extraordinary not only on track but also in civil conscience, capable of drawing global attention to issues concerning human dignity and people’s lives, human rights and the responsibilities of those who, like Formula 1, hold a global platform with huge media power.
Should Formula 1 race in Qatar?
In this context, it is worth raising again a perhaps uncomfortable question for Formula 1: is it right to race in Qatar in just a few weeks?
A few hours ago, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declared: “Trump invited me to the White House. Qatar finances Hamas.”
The Israeli attack a few days ago on the building where Hamas members were reportedly meeting took place in Doha, just a few kilometers from the Losail circuit. The geographical closeness of the attack is not a detail that can be overlooked when it comes to safety, and even if the main conflict is taking place 2000 km away, broader evaluations are necessary: this is an area involved in the escalation of violence and still exposed to tensions, and bringing the economic impact of a Grand Prix there is at the very least a controversial choice.
The issue is not only safety, but also ethical consistency. Can the spectacle of Formula 1 really be celebrated while, in territories involved in the same conflict, thousands of innocent victims are being counted? In 2022, faced with the war in Ukraine, the circus chose to cancel the Russian Grand Prix for ethical and political reasons, and today it should probably adopt a similar standard, if not to punish the country that triggered the conflict then at least to distance itself from an area economically involved in it.
These reflections and Hamilton’s words should remind us that Formula 1 does not live in a bubble. Calendar choices, especially when it comes to countries directly involved in a conflict, should not ignore humanitarian considerations. If Formula 1 truly wants to be global, it must also accept the responsibility of taking a stand on what is happening in the world, without limiting itself to racing as if nothing were happening. In this sense, the message — which openly cites the word genocide, reporting the position of a UN commission — is not just a moral appeal, but an invitation to reconsider choices that have a concrete impact well beyond the show on track.
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