Hamilton opens up on F1 appeal amid off-track controversies

Lewis Hamilton has highlighted the elements of Formula 1 he still loves amid his concern with various off-track controversies.

Allegations made against Red Bull team principal Christian Horner by a team employee have been at the forefront of F1 headlines since the start of the year.

Horner was cleared after being questioned by an external lawyer but the situation escalated when screenshots alleged to be of conversations between Horner and his accuser were leaked.

Jos Verstappen, father of Red Bull's star driver Max, then suggested the team would be “torn apart” if Horner stayed in his position.

Amid the Red Bull debacle, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was also placed under investigation after allegedly attempting to interfere with the result of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and pushing to stop the Las Vegas Strip Circuit from being certified.

Hamilton has detailed that the sport must show transparency going forward.

“The sport has grown in so many ways,” Hamilton told media including RacingNews365.

“We're seen and accepted in so many places, far more than we ever have been, which I think has been a real positive.

“It's really important to stay to the core values. That's about integrity, that's going through processes with transparency and trust.

“Our fans need to trust us. They need to be able to trust the sport.”

Hamilton reveals F1 love

Hamilton asserted that the off-track controversies which have generated vast attention are “not the part of the sport that I love”.

When prompted to explain the factors of the sport that he does still have affection for, Hamilton said: “The things I love about the sport is the team element.

“It's the competition, it's everyone working to be the best they can be.

“It's everyone within a team rowing in the same direction, and chasing something that's almost unattainable, which is perfection, innovation and winning the world championship. It's such an incredible thing.

“Then close battles. That's what you want to see more of within our sport.

“We've had the Schumacher dominance, you had my era of dominance, it happens all the time. And I think we can't take anything away from Red Bull. They've done such an amazing job.

“I mean, all of what they've done as a team, I think it's really great. They really raised the bar so high, so we're all striving to get to that.

“It would be great if we were all having a closer battle, but I think that's what's being worked on.”