F1: Son of sentenced to death asks Lewis Hamilton for help

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — The son of a man sentenced to die in Bahrain has again sent a drawing to Lewis Hamilton, the hepta-champion of Formula One, still hoping that the British driver could save his father's life.

Prior to Sunday's race that begins the F1 season in Bahrain, Ahmed proudly showed the drawing of the famous Mercedes car with Hamilton's number 44 alongside a phrase of hope: “Sir Lewis, another F1 in which my innocent father is still sentenced to death. Please help free him.”

The child under 12 is the son of Mohammed Ramadhan, a former member of the Bahraini security forces who is facing the death penalty.

The drawing was shown to The Associated Press by Ahmed, who was accompanied by his mother, Zainab Ebrahim, when they spoke in an interview on Thursday in Bahrain. Ahmed explained the reason for the drawing.

“I drew this picture to motivate Lewis,” he said. “There are many stories that Lewis can influence and can help change.”

Hamilton said he hasn't seen the drawing yet, which was also sent to his team.

“But year after year I receive letters from those who suffer and all I can do is empathize with those who face these challenges and these tragic stories,” Hamilton said Friday as part of the practice sessions for the Bahrain Grand Prix. “I believe that the weight of change really needs to be put on governments and those in power. That's why we must continue to use whatever platforms we have as well when we arrive in those countries, to ensure that they have serious conversations about what is happening there.”

Hamilton has said before that F1 is “obliged” to raise awareness about human rights wherever they are going to compete. But he stressed that drivers must also push for permanent changes.