Â鶹ӰÊÓ

Skip to main content

Lewis Hamilton backs Naomi Osaka in news conference dispute

Share
BAKU, Azerbaijan -

Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton called Thursday for more support for young athletes dealing with media duties after four-time Grand Slam champion tennis player Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open citing her mental health.

Osaka withdrew from the tournament on Monday after she was fined for refusing to attend the typical post-match news conference following her first-round victory. The Japanese player said on social media that she faced "huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world's media."

Speaking ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Hamilton was critical of the French Open organizers.

"The way they reacted was not good with the fine and someone talking about their personal mental health and then being fined for it, that wasn't cool. I think they could have definitely handled it better, I'm sure. I hope they will take a deep dive into it and find a better way to navigate in the future," Hamilton said.

Hamilton said he had felt overwhelmed by media obligations around the time he joined F1 in 2007 when he was 22.

"When I was young, I was thrown into the pit and I wasn't given any guidance or support. And what I do know is that, you know, when youngsters are coming in, they're facing the same thing as I did. And I don't necessarily know if that's the best for them," Hamilton said. "I think we need to be supporting more and I think it shouldn't be a case where you're pressured.

"For example, with Naomi's scenario, she didn't feel comfortable for her own personal health not to do something. And the backlash is ridiculous."

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

The British Columbia election campaign is set to officially start today, with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin issuing the writ for the Oct. 19 vote.

A northern Ontario man is facing a $12,000 fine after illegally shooting a moose near the Batchawan River.

Unusual flippered feet are making their way into the Saint Lawrence River this weekend. Led by underwater explorer and filmmaker Nathalie Lasselin, volunteer divers are combing the riverbed near Beauharnois in Montérégie to remove hundreds of tires that have been polluting the aquatic environment for decades.

A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

Local Spotlight

Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

Stay Connected