Hamilton, meanwhile, will wear his rainbow helmet in Qatar once again as a show of his support for LGBTQ+ rights in a country where same-sex relationships are illegal. He wore the helmet two years ago, as the 2022 race was cancelled as Qatar was hosting the football World Cup at the time.
“It’s always good and well raising awareness for things, but it’s more about the work that is done in the background and the conversations you continue to have,” Hamilton said. “It’s such a big machine to shift. It is a whole country that is very young. It has taken the west a long, long time to get to where they are.
“All we can do is try to be positive when we come to these places and take the opportunity. That’s why I continue to wear the flag here.”
