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Grand Prix Drivers Association director and Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell has called the FIA’s new regulation controlling free speech “silly” and “totally unnecessary”.
The International Sporting Code now limits drivers’ free speech following a change ratified late last year that demands written consent be provided to make a “political, religious and personal statement or comment”.
In the article that outlines what constitutes a “breach of rules” the International Sporting Code outlaws “the general making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments notably in violation of the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA under its Statutes”.
This was a significant change from what the ISC previously upheld as in the past the only mention of political or religious acts related to blocking advertising anything “political or religious in nature or that is prejudicial to the interests of the FIA” on cars.
The FIA justified this on the grounds it was aligning with the International Olympic Committee but there are concerns the change may be used to gag drivers who have previously discussed topics like human rights or LGBTQ+ matters in countries hostile to such issues.
Russell said: “I’m not too sure why they have taken a stance like this. I think it’s totally unnecessary in the sport and in the world we live at the moment.
“Naturally we are seeking clarification and I trust it will be resolved.
“I’d like to think it’s been some kind of misunderstanding but I’m not too sure.
“We’re not going to limit our views or our thoughts because of some silly regulation.
“We’re all here to have free speech and share whatever views we may have.”
It is widely expected in F1 that the FIA will address the matter ahead of the start of the season to clarify the new regulation.
This will probably be done in private with teams and drivers and then have a public element.
Russell said he has “hope and trust it will be resolved before the first race”, although one concern is that if the matter was as simple as has been made out – with no intention to enforce the regulation in the way people fear – it would have been addressed by now.
Russell’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who has been at the forefront of drivers becoming more outspoken about major issues, said the rule “doesn’t surprise me”.
He also pointed to supportive comments made by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and suggested the drivers all share the same view.
“But nothing will stop me from speaking on things I feel that I’m passionate about and issues that there are,” Hamilton said.
“I feel the sport does have a responsibility still, always, to speak out on things, to create awareness on important topics, particularly as we’re travelling to all these different places. So, nothing changes for me.
“It would be silly to say that I would want to get penalty points for speaking out on things.
“But I’m still going to be speaking my mind, and as we still have this platform there’s still a lot of things that we need to tackle.
“The support of Stefano I think has been amazing and I think all the drivers have been very much aligned on freedom of speech.”
Earlier in the week McLaren driver Lando Norris said it is “very important” to get clarity from the FIA.
He expressly stated it was not the right direction for F1 to go in limiting what drivers can say and how they can use their influence.
“We’re only wanting to do things for the best, we’re not going to want to use it in any wrongdoing way,” he said.
“We’re doing it because we have millions of fans, millions of viewers who we want to influence and guide and use to help or to help them personally.
“So, we should have freedom of speech, we should be able to say and do what we want.
“That’s what defines people, it’s what makes us human.
“If things start to get blocked off, and we can’t even talk and say anything, no one’s gonna want to do media and anything because you just can’t say anything, everyone will turn into a robot and just say the same things over and over again.”
