BIRD has received letters from alleged torture victims in Bahrain, with pleas for seven-time F1 champion Hamilton to help political prisoners in Bahrain. Included with the letters to Hamilton was a photo of 11-year-old Ahmed, who is proudly holding up his drawing of Hamilton's Mercedes F1 car. “When world champions like Lewis Hamilton speak out, lives can change forever,” Alwadaei told The AP. Bahrain is accused of exploiting F1 to gloss over, or “Sportswash” its human rights record, by using a high-profile sporting event to project a favorable image of their country. Another letter sent to Carey, co-signed by 30 British cross-party parliamentarians, asked F1 to implement its human rights policy at the Bahrain GP amid concerns about rights violations linked to the race.

The coronavirus has hit the Silverstone race with Sergio Perez forced out after testing positive on Thursday. After dominating the Hungarian Grand Prix earlier this month, Hamilton then accused Grand Prix Drivers Association director Romain Grosjean of failing to convince the grid to be united in kneeling before the race. But he also apologized to Hamilton for indicating that it might have been the wrong call. Romain originally reached out to me and we had a great conversation, added Hamilton. Red Bulls Max Verstappen and Ferraris Charles Leclerc are among those drivers who have stood rather than taking a knee.

(Joe Klamar/Pool via AP)SPIELBERG Standing on the podium to celebrate his latest win, Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton raised a clenched right fist and then delivered a message to his fellow drivers not to slow down in the fight against racism. On Sunday Hamilton and the other 19 F1 drivers wore black T-shirts with End Racism on them, as they had done at last weekend's season-opening Austrian GP. Williams and Hamilton have both referenced the Black Lives Matter movement, which Hamilton wore on the front of his T-shirt on Sunday. Hamilton attended a Black Lives Matter march in London and is setting up a commission to increase diversity in motorsport. Although he also praised F1 chairman Chase Carey and governing body FIA for donating money to help promote more equality and diversity in F1, Hamilton clearly feels there is still a long way to go.

SPIELBERG The first Tuscan Grand Prix in Mugello will be held on Sept. 13, and the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi two weeks later could be the first Formula One race this season with fans. The F1 season started last weekend in Austria with no fans at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg because of the coronavirus pandemic. But Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko said he hopes spectators can attend can attend the race in Sochi later this year. "It will be an important event for Russian sport.It was not immediately clear how many fans Russian authorities hope to allow inside the 55,000-capacity Sochi Autodrom. It has never staged an F1 race but has hosted F2 and MotoGP races, as well as previously being a Ferrari test track.

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has criticized ignorant and uneducated comments by former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. "Damn, I just don't even know where to start on this one ... so sad and disappointing to read these comments, Hamilton posted on Instagram. It will just make people think, which is more important, Ecclestone replied. Ecclestone insisted Hamilton had never discussed this, and was surprised Hamilton took offense. At a time when unity is needed to tackle racism and inequality, we completely disagree with Bernie Ecclestones comments that have no place in F1 or society," F1 said.

PARIS Formula One announced an initiative on Monday aimed at tackling racism and encouraging more diversity within the series. F1 said in a statement that We Race As One will also address issues surrounding inequality, sustainability and the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to four F1 races being canceled and delayed the season's start from mid-March to July. We want our restart to show that as a sporting community we stand united against racism and we will do more to address inequality and diversity in F1, the statement said. The announcement comes after six-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton said he is setting up a commission to increase diversity in motorsports. Hamilton previously criticized F1 for staying silent on racism, prompting a flurry of support on Twitter from F1 drivers such as Charles Leclerc and Daniel Ricciardo.

LONDON Formula One races won't be canceled if a driver tests positive for the coronavirus or if a team withdraws, CEO Chase Carey says. F1 wants to avoid a repeat of the season opener in Australia in March, which was canceled when the McLaren team withdrew after a staff member tested positive for the virus. But we will have a procedure in place that finding infection will not lead to a cancellation, Carey said on the F1 website Tuesday. Carey said team members will be tested for the coronavirus before they depart for a race and then every two days. "When a car pulls into a pit and has to change four tires, there wont be two meters between every individual.