Ahead of preseason testing, Formula 1 drivers gathered at Bahrain International Circuit to show their support for peace in Ukraine.
The final preseason testing session ahead of the 2022 Formula 1 season got underway on Thursday at Bahrain International Circuit.
On Wednesday, the drivers set to compete throughout the upcoming 23-race campaign gathered on the front straightaway of the 15-turn, 3.363-mile (5.412-kilometer) road course in Sakhir, Bahrain wearing “NO WAR” t-shirts, calling for peace in Ukraine following the Russian invasion of the country two weeks ago.
However, one driver was notably absent from the photo op, and that was Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
Naturally, in a day and age when the court of public opinion reigns supreme across social media, this let to instant criticism directed at the seven-time world champion.
However, as it turns out, the reason why Hamilton wasn’t there really came down to nothing more than an innocent explanation.
Mercedes stated that his flight to Bahrain was delayed. He has, in fact, since arrived at the track for the first day of testing, and he took part in Thursday’s team and driver photo shoot.
If you count the drivers in the picture, you get 18, not 19. The other “absence” came after Nikita Mazepin was dropped by Haas, but his replacement, Kevin Magnussen, was only named yesterday. Magnussen, like Hamilton, has also since arrived at the circuit.
Of course, with Hamilton being the only driver absent, some called the claim a likely story, pointing to the idea that he “would have been there” if it had been for a cause with which he has previously aligned himself.
In one instance, a Russian Grand Prix picture featuring him with Russian President Vladimir Putin was shamelessly photoshopped to include the word “WAR” and placed alongside the group photo full of “NO WAR” t-shirts.
But again, did you expect anything less in this day and age?
It was effectively a non-story turned into a story by fans on social media looking for something to be upset about, leading to the false assumption that he was “too good” to participate — or something like that.
Preseason testing at Bahrain International Circuit is scheduled to last from today through Saturday, March 12, and the season is scheduled to get underway at the track with the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, March 20.