Days before the Bahrain Grand Prix is set to lift the curtain on the 2022 campaign, Formula 1 organisers have been accused of ignoring human rights abuses taking place in the country.
A letter from the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) has urged teams, the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA), the FIA and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali to not overlook the atrocities. The address suggested Formula 1 has "abandoned those who have been tortured and imprisoned" partly as a result of their criticism of the race being held in the country.
The new F1 season begins on Sunday when Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton will attempt to win at Sakhir for a fourth year running, not to mention a record-extending sixth title overall. The seven-time world champion recently received a letter from Bahraini prisoner Ali Alhajee, who thanked Hamilton for pressuring organisers to acknowledge the human rights issues in the countries where races are held.
