F1 urged to follow Lewis Hamilton lead and highlight Bahrain human rights abuses

Mercedes' seven-time world champion Hamilton has been praised for drawing attention to the plight of the country's political prisoners

Lewis Hamilton has drawn attention to the plight in Bahrain.

Formula One drivers, teams and sponsors have been urged to follow Lewis Hamilton's lead by shining a light on human rights abuses in Bahrain.

The new season opens on Saturday in an event billed by the Gulf state as '20 Years of a Modern Classic', yet is the subject of a joint letter by 27 rights groups and trade unions stating that the Grand Prix is being used to "sportswash the country's dire human rights record".