F1 bans drivers from making political gestures and statements
Dec.21 - Formula 1 is clamping down on political gestures and statements by drivers at grands prix.
The FIA has revealed a ban on "political statements" from the start of the 2023 season, following the emergence of social activism by drivers including champions Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.
No longer allowed is "the general making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments" that compromise F1's "general principle of neutrality".
The Mclaren F1 car with a rainbow on top of the halo
The only exceptions will have to be "approved in writing".
Earlier in 2022, new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem hit out at the way drivers were politicising their public platforms.
"Niki Lauda and Alain Prost only cared about driving," he said.
"Now, Vettel drives a rainbow bicycle, Lewis is passionate about human rights and (Lando) Norris addresses mental health."
However, Russian driver Nikita Mazepin lost his seat at Haas early this year for no other reason than the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
Since then, he has been campaigning for political neutrality in sport.
"We need to get back to a place where international competition was time for athletes to interact on a fair and neutral playing field and not be pushed into public debate," Mazepin, 23, said on social media earlier this week.
"Efforts to use sports to impact politics have failed miserably and resulted in the destruction of careers and dreams of talented and dedicated athletes.
"It's time to admit that we in the sporting community have lost our way."
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About time the FIA banned all the political nonsense that has in recent years been allowed to assault F1.
Louise will have nothing to talk about now! All that crap he intimidated other drivers to indulge him with of "taking a knee" will be gone. Louise may have to learn how to promote motor racing rather than his own hobbyhorse!
Mazepin's dreams became a nightmare because of his family's support for the Hitler styled invasion that Putin initiated. He should remain banned from F1!
I thought him and Louise got on like a house on fire, obviouslyyy not lol
Longoverdue
Hmm in a modern caring world where do you draw the line and is this to appease the Arab countries. If you have to have written permission it means someone else makes these decisions, Ben S?.
Much more should be being done by such a powerful lobby supported by the management not less. Man up you lot and take some responsibility.
Here endeth the lesson.
Having polarized the Paddock and assaulted the public with mewling worldly-angst, I am grateful for a hoped-for return to the singleness of purpose necessary to excel at one of the highest levels of motor-sport.
It's regrettable that the perpetrators needed to be regulated - but that is to be expected given the narcissistic nature of he beast.
Glad to see that you recognise the press and interviewers are the ones assaulting-the public with mewling and worldly-angst.
I doubt that the new regulations designed in reality to curb free speech and protect tyrannical regimes will have any effect as those narcissistic perpetrators are not subject to them. I would expect the mewling worldly-angst to continue from both sides of the fence as now.
Politics should have nothing to do with sports!
So I'm glad the FIA is still man enough to ban it from their platform once and for all.
I watch sports to enjoy and relax, not to get annoyed by some stupid gesture to save the world...
Agree. The SKYguy interview with Lewie spewing his world view and advocating his 'causes' was particularly irksome. The guys have the right to their viewpoints but we all tune in to see them race, not pontificate.
Why oh why oh why do you watch if it upsets you so much. Turn It Off or better still don’t turn it on in the first place. Or do you have to watch to give yourself something to winge about. Come to think of it you must like it really you’re daft enough to pay for it!,
BBC highlights are more than enough F1 for me and reading the erudite comments on this site of course. No offence.
C4 have been doing the highlight show since 2016.
Blo, the reference was to devoting a RACING interview to Lewie's personal social views. BTW, in the US the SKY feed is carried by ESPN, not a separate pay channel. (at least not yet)
Bit unreasonable to blame Lewis, he’ just answering the questions not standing on a soapbox.
BS has just made things a whole lot worse not better, banning free speech will not put Lewis off, quite the opposite. Trying to punish him and any others will multiply the publicity a hundred times.
Sometimes people need a gentle prod to encourage them to do the right thing.
AGAIN, Blo, the criticism is directed at the SKYguy interview, not the knight.
Apologies, but you name the person being interviewed and his spewing his world view, but do not name the interviewer or his question.
It makes it easy to get the wrong idea.
Blo, your completely off track mate, we watch it because it's motor racing in the highest degree and give a lot of fans huge enjoyment, if people were to switch off because of their dislike of particular incidents that would be unfair and also degenerate a large sum of revenue for the organisations,, just saying. 😜
I would have hoped you would be prepared to give a little back in return for the pleasure it gives you. No one is asking you to turn the racing off, the interviews and brief demonstrations don’t happen while the race is in progress.
Is that not political when you ban opinions? How can it harm anyone with discrete rainbow design. In China and Iran people demonstrate with a blank white paper. So perhaps a white helmet is political. The text no war is not allowed because war is politixal in Russia. Ben s is defending his country. Worried about beeing treated bad depending their bad treatment of women.
Agreed, this is how certain countries control the population, its not really about making f1 just for racing again, its a lot to do with as you say Binman defending/silencing anything this his country/region does not agree with, all the dodgy places do it , China, Hk, North Korea, Russia, Turkey anymore?, most f1 fans wouldn't give a stuff about Hamilton or Seb wearing a LGBT T Shirt, but what they do object to , is being preached at , or being bullied into taking the knee Imo
So shropp, all that we've been saying on this matter, & been slagged off by certain posters, is in fact politicaly correct at last someone is showing that they have comment sence in abundance,, I say some can take their views to the world of fashion with rainbows on the price tags of their talented fashions so be it back to sanity. 😜
"comment sence in abundance"
I have never seen a bun dance!
Stroppy - you forgot Canada! Where: protesters are jailed, their funds frozen; mainstream media is tightly controlled; academia preaches the Narrative; opponents are marginalized and de-humanized. Everything that Goebbels and the Nazi's did prior to and during WW-II.
I'm ready to move to Panama.
And you are correct - don't bully, don't preach, don't expect.
So you seem to be saying that you support protest and free speech as long as you don’t have to witness it. I surely must have misunderstood
I somehow doubt that Panama will treat you any better.
No Blo - I far prefer free speech, rather than directed speech (another piece of legislation by the far-left Liberals to be sooo inclusive).
Without free speech, you don't have democracy. So, I'll put up with the occasional wing-nut so long as they don't run the government.
We’re agreed there Ed .
End of an era.mercedes should have reeled shamilton in long ago
I watch Formula 1 to enjoy. If I want politics, I read the news.
I'm watching sky f1 for visuals and bbc for the audio in 23 , but im not paying sky feck all iptv, £45 for the yr happy days, oh and feck the licence fee , ain't paid it for 3 yrs and will never pay it again , merry xmas lol
Everyone has a right to their opinions, don’t think that the problem here. If people want to hear some athletes views on political and social issues, find another outlet that is more appropriate to express them. My guess, most people who watch F1, are interested in the sport itself rather than someone’s political or social views, because at the end of the day, it is only one person’s opinion, no more or less valid then anyone else’s.
Best post of the topic, Susan!
Exactement! You have not been dragged into the weeds to comment on side issues, belittling views of others or propaganda, as some have done.
Well written and absolutely correct.
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