Formula One’s governing body has attempted to defuse an increasingly fractious row with drivers over restrictions on their freedom of speech.
The FIA has issued a clarification of the ban on “political, religious or personal” comments being made without permission. The update sets out the scenarios where drivers will be free to express themselves.
The regulation, imposed in December, has proved hugely unpopular with drivers. This week Lewis Hamilton said he would not be silenced, while the F1 chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, has said the sport would not “gag the drivers”.
With dissatisfaction gaining momentum, the FIA sent a clarification to the 10 teams on Friday in an effort to see off a potential showdown with the drivers. The FIA said: “The focus at any international competition must remain on motorsport and on the performances of teams and drivers.”
The document specifies that statements will not be permitted without prior permission within the bounds of “international competition” which it defines as on-track action, the podium, driver parade and national anthem ceremonies and it would include visual gestures. This is largely in line with existing rules but the document has been clear that in areas “outside the scope of international competition” drivers will be completely free to express themselves both at and away from the track. This would include social media, interviews both written and on televisionas well as official FIA press conferences. At the latter, however, while drivers are not allowed to make unsolicited statements they will be able to answer with complete freedom any questions asked by reporters.
The document noted that breaking its definitions would result in penalties which could run from reprimands, through fines, a grid drop, time penalty or potentially suspension or exclusion. It would only be in “exceptional” circumstances that the FIA would grant permission for a driver to make a statement that would otherwise be prohibited by the “principle of neutrality”, adopted to come into line with International Olympic Committee regulations, with the FIA an IOC federation.
A spokesperson for the FIA said: “The updates cement the FIA’s longstanding commitment to protecting motor sport’s neutrality.”
Some grey areas remain, however, notably that of drivers’ helmets. They are clearly visible during the race and covered by the ban as being within sporting competition. In 2021 Hamilton wore a helmet withsported rainbow livery in support of the LGBTQ+ community rights in both Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It is understood that under the new rules he would have to have sought written permission to do so at least four weeks in advance. The same would apply to a team wanting to run the rainbow colours on their car. At the World Cup in Qatar last year Fifa and the host nation attracted widespread criticism for banning “One Love” armbands and preventing fans from wearing rainbow colours into stadiums.
The FIA’s clarification had been expected but many are now questioning why it took so long to issue the detail around the regulation and that it did so only after an almost universal swathe of defiance from drivers.
