Human Rights Concerns Have F1 Champ Lewis Hamilton Uncomfortable Racing in Saudi Arabia

• Lewis Hamilton on Thursday said that concerns about human rights conditions in Saudi Arabia make him uncomfortable racing there this weekend.

• Hamilton has put Formula 1 on notice in the past, including ahead of the opening race of the season in Bahrain. He was also vocal two weeks ago in Qatar.

• Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel also had plenty to say as the sport prepares for its first race in Jeddah.

Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton says that even though he's received a warm welcome in Saudi Arabia this week, it's not his choice to race there.

As F1's resident activist on climate and human rights concerns, Hamilton on Thursday was quick to say that concerns about human rights conditions surrounding this week's stop at the sport's newest host venue make him uncomfortable.

Hamilton's comments were an extension of comments made at Qatar two weeks ago.

"As I said at the last race, that I felt that the sport and we are duty bound to try to help raise awareness for certain issues that we’ve seen, particularly human rights, in these countries that we’re going to," Hamilton said during press availability in Jeddah. "With the upmost respect to everyone that’s here, so far I’ve had a warm welcome from everyone on the ground, I can’t pretend to ever to be the most knowledgeable or have the deepest understanding of someone who has grown up in the community here that is heavily affected by certain rules and the regime.

"Do I feel comfortable here? I wouldn’t say I do. But it’s not my choice to be here, the sport has taken the choice to be here. Whether it’s right or wrong, whilst we’re here again, I feel it’s important that we do try to raise awareness."

Hamilton has put Formula 1 on notice in the past, including ahead of the opening race of the season in Bahrain. He was also vocal two weeks ago in Qatar.