The FIA has moved to clarify the new regulations that appear to limit the free speech of Formula 1 drivers.
The governing body caused a stir by ratifying changes to the International Sporting Code late last year that would demand written consent to be provided to make a “political, religious and personal statement or comment”.
This marked a significant departure from previous iterations of the ISC that only mentioned political or religious acts in the context of a block on advertising anything “political or religious in nature or that is prejudicial to the interests of the FIA” on cars.
The changes led to widespread criticism from F1 drivers such as Mercedes driver and Grand Prix Drivers’ Association director George Russell, who labelled it “silly and unnecessary” at the team’s 2023 launch this week.
Now the FIA has issued guidance to clarify why it’s clamping down on drivers making such statements – and where drivers will be allowed to make them.
“The focus at any international competition must remain on motorsport and on the performances of teams and drivers,” the guidelines said under a heading of why the principle exists and what it aims to achieve.
“It should not be used as a platform for individual advocacy.
“This principle also aims to prevent participants from being placed in a position where they may be forced to take a public position on a particular domestic or international issue when they would prefer not to do so.”
The guidance says drivers “can express their views on any political, religious or personal matter before, during or after” an event and they can do so in “their own space”.
The FIA lists social media, interviews with accredited media and FIA press conferences as examples of a driver’s “own space” but only the latter in “response to direct questions from accredited journalists”.
Drivers are also not allowed to make such statements during activities on the track such as the drivers’ parade or during pre- or post-race procedures like the podium, cool down room or the start and end of season group photos.
That’s unless the FIA grants the drivers an exemption “on an exceptional and case-by-case basis” and applications must be made at least four weeks in advance unless under exceptional circumstances.
Despite the various clarifications it is not yet clear whether driver helmet designs or symbols on cars that display things like the colours of the Pride flag will be considered a potential breach of the new regulation.
The stewards of that particular grand prix will determine whether a statement or comment is political, religious or personal.
The guidelines also include a “non-exhaustive list of potential scenarios that could be prohibited” by the new rules.
This list is just a guide with the stewards needing to “carefully assess the specific circumstances of each potential contravention” when assessing whether a breach of the regulations has occurred.
Examples of banned political statements include references to “any politically-associated or politically-sensitive person(s) living or dead” as well as political parties, national governments, separatist movements, political or military conflicts or “any specific political acts or events”.
For religious statements, the FIA outlaws references to “a religion, spiritual practice or related significant figure” or “anything critical of or hostile to others’ religious or spiritual beliefs”.
There is also a note to clarify that “non-proselytising religious gestures, such as pointing to the sky or crossing oneself, shall not be considered prohibited religious statements”.
Personal statements are defined as simply “any circumstance personal to the participant”.
It says drivers “must not use events as a platform to share personal statements of any kind in violation of the general principle of neutrality”.
The guidelines state any potential breach should be reported to the race director who will in turn inform the stewards.
The stewards can impose any of the penalties listed under Article 12.4.1 of the ISC.
They could opt to give the offending driver a reprimand or fine but they also have the capacity for heftier penalties such as a grid drop or a time penalty.
Theoretically, the stewards could even hand out suspensions or exclusions to drivers for breaking the new rules on making political, religious and personal statements.
