Hamilton slams UK government’s 'appalling' handling of coronavirus

Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton says he has been left "appalled" by the UK government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. 

There have been over 40,000 deaths recorded with coronavirus since the outbreak began, with the UK ranked as the fifth worst-hit country in the world.

The UK has kept its borders open throughout the crisis despite being the worst-affected European country, and only started a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for international arrives as of today (8 June).

“I’m appalled at the UK government on how they have handled Covid,” Hamilton wrote on Instagram.

“You should have closed the borders months ago. How can you let people fly in from countries without being tested is baffling.

“You could have saved thousands of lives. We need better leaders!”

Hamilton has posted a number of strong anti-racism messages on social media in recent days about the events in America following the death of George Floyd, which the six-time world champion said had left him “overcome with rage”.

The Briton has also called on governments across the world to follow the example of the protestors who tore down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol over the weekend.

“I’m watching the news today regarding the statue torn down yesterday,” he added.

“If those people hadn’t taken down that statue honouring a racist slave trader, it would never have been removed.

“There’s talks of it going into a museum. That man’s statue should stay in the river just like the 20,000 African souls who died on the journey here and [were] thrown into the sea, with no burial or memorial.

“He stole them from their families, country and he must not be celebrated! It should be replaced with a memorial for all those he sold, all those that lost their lives!!”