F1 LIVE | Hamilton makes emotional landmark statement, as Middle East conflict looms over F1

Bahrain day 3 starts
Photo: Race Pictures
Live
Updated: 09:18, 04 Mar
40 Comments
Follow along for the best news from the F1 world with GPblog's daily liveblog!

Hamilton slams 'doubters' in defiant 20th season message

Yesterday, Lewis Hamilton posted an emotional statement on Instagram, looking back at his 20 seasons in F1 while sending a defiant message to "doubters" and those “who tried to knock me down.”
Hamilton said: "Twenty years filled with incredible highs and brutal lows, with more mistakes than I can count. But those mistakes made the journey even sweeter. You hold the power to your destiny. Everything you need to succeed is within you. You will need help along the way, like I did, but that spark, that fire, is already inside you.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I’m forever grateful for the lessons, the quiet moments, the chaos, and the many people who helped me chase and achieve my dreams.“I’m grateful for the doubters and for the ones who tried to knock me down, too. I'm still here, 20 years on, still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream. No holding back.”
lewis-hamilton-ferrari-bahrain-jpg
Photo: Race Pictures

Qatar race cancelled as Middle East conflict threatens F1 season start

Meanwhile, the FIA postponed the 2026 WEC season opener in Qatar, as the ongoing US-Iran conflict in the Middle East plunges the F1 season start into uncertainty.
ADVERTISEMENT
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: The safety and wellbeing of our community will always be the FIA’s first priority, and I thank our Member Club the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation, Lusail International Circuit, the ACO and our championship colleagues for the measured and collaborative approach that has led to this decision.
"The FIA continues to monitor developments across the region and our thoughts remain with all those affected by these recent events as we hope for calm, safety and a return to stability.
FIA-logo-jpg
Photo: Race Pictures
ADVERTISEMENT

Don’t miss GPblog in Google

Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.

Add as a preferred / source on Google
loading
Monaco Grand Prix
Overview
Upcoming race
Friday 05.06.26
Practice 1
Fri 11:30 AM
Practice 2
Fri 03:00 PM
Saturday 06.06.26
Practice 3
Sat 10:30 AM
Qualification
Sat 02:00 PM
Sunday 07.06.26
Race
Sun 01:00 PM

Loading