Motorsport: F1 preparing Manchester tribute

Lewis Hamilton leads Sebastian Vettel at the Spanish Grand Prix. Photo / Getty Images

Formula One organisers are planning to hold a minute's silence before Monday's Monaco Grand Prix as a mark of respect for the victims of the Manchester bomb attack.

A Formula One Management source told Reuters the 10 teams, a majority of them British-based, had also agreed to carry the Manchester hashtag on their cars.

Britain's Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button - who is replacing Fernando Alonso in Monte Carlo this weekend - will be among the 20 drivers to line up at the front of the grid before the race to pay their respects.

The initiatives have been put in place by the sport's new owners Liberty Media and are set to be ratified by F1's managing director for motorsport Ross Brawn, who was born in Greater Manchester, later on Thursday.

Hamilton, Britain's triple world champion, last night issued a series of Instagram videos expressing his sadness at the terror attacks.

"I feel super deflated. I can't believe the things that are happening around the world in Syria and in Manchester," the 32-year-old said.

"It is terrible and I cannot believe it. We should be taking care of each other and it is time to spread love and lift one another up. I just don't understand these people's thinking.

"There is nothing they can win or accomplish. My prayers are with everyone in Manchester."

Tuesday night's attack in the northern English city, claimed by the Islamic State militant group, killed 22 people at a concert venue packed with children, and wounded dozens more.