Hamilton: Gaza war 'difficult to understand in F1 bubble'

Lewis Hamilton believes Formula 1 is in a "bubble" that has made it "difficult" to focus on racing since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

On October 7, Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel, murdering thousands of citizens and taking others hostage, with Israel responding by attacking Gaza, where Hamas has headquarters.

Current estimates put the total death toll at nearly 17,000 since the start of the conflict, with a recent ceasefire allowing hostages to be released but fighting has resumed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking the eradication of Hamas.

Israel's bombardment of civilians in Gaza has been controversial, with multiple protests on the streets of cities around the world including London and Washington D.C calling for an immediate and total ceasefire to defend Palestinian citizens.

Leading international figures including the President of the United States Joe Biden, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have stated Israel is within its right to defend itself following the October 7th attack, but that ceasing of hostilities should be worked towards.

As a senior driver, Hamilton was asked in Abu Dhabi for his observations of events, with the ongoing war a few hundred miles away at the time of the season-finale.

Hamilton: 'Massively disappointing'

"Absolutely, I mean, how can you not?" Hamilton replied when asked by media including RacingNews365 when asked if he looked at and was aware of events in Gaza.

"It has been a very strange period for us, because we are in such a bubble here.

"We arrive at all these different places, and there is so much positivity in our little bubble, but it is really hard and difficult to wake up each day knowing that there are thousands of kids dying, and that there is nothing that you can do about it.

"The rest of the world just goes on as it is, and it is massively disappointing to see how countries and governments are handling it, and to think where we are in 2023, with everything through history, it doesn't look like we've learnt anything.

"So to be able to compartmentalise that and just go ahead with doing your job, I think that is difficult, I mean it is all over social media.

"There is not a moment, a day that you don't see something pop up on the news, and you are just trying to remain positive through the darkest time."