Formula 1 in 'crucial moment' due to off-track controversies, says Hamilton

British driver Lewis Hamilton said on Wednesday that Formula 1 was experiencing a “crucial moment” in its history, due to a series of off-track controversies which are damaging its image at the start of the new season. After the "Horner affair" - the boss of Red Bull finally cleared of accusations of "inappropriate behavior" - it is now the president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who is in turmoil.

According to the BBC, which cites a whistleblower, the Emirati boss of the FIA ​​ordered his teams to find a way not to approve the Las Vegas circuit, which hosted its first Formula Grand Prix last year. 1. Drawing on the same source, the BBC added that Ben Sulayem also reportedly asked officials to overturn a penalty given to Fernando Alonso during last year's Saudi GP.

“All of this doesn't look good on the outside and it doesn't look good on the inside either,” seven-time world champion Hamilton said ahead of this weekend's Saudi Grand Prix. . “I think this is a very important moment for this sport to show its values ​​and stick to them, and for each of us to be responsible for our actions,” continued the Briton. “This is a pivotal moment for what we are showing the world and how it has been handled. And it has not been managed very well so far,” he also regretted.

“Transparency is really essential,” Hamilton concluded. I hope that progress will be made and that the year will not continue like this.