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Hamilton: F1 must do more to tackle human rights abuses

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton believes Formula One should do more to highlight and address human rights issues in the countries it visits.

His comments were made ahead of two races in Bahrain and followed news of a letter from U.K. parliamentarians to F1 CEO Chase Carey urging the sport to use its races to "leverage Bahrain into respecting human rights".

The letter, which was signed by 30 cross-party members of parliament, called on F1 to "end suppression of protests against the race, secure redress for victims and ensure the rights of Bahraini citizens are defended". It drew special attention to the detention of activist Najah Yusuf, who was imprisoned in 2017 and allegedly tortured after criticising that year's F1 race on social media.