The FIA changed its International Sporting Code, which will impact the causes they can support before and during races. Starting this season, drivers must receive written permission from the FIA to make any “political, religious and personal statements.”
While the new rule does not explicitly ban public support for LGBTQ+ groups or other social causes, it does appear to be aimed mostly at seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, given that four-time champ Sebastian Vettel, also often politically vocal, is now retired.
Hamilton has worn a rainbow helmet and made other gestures supporting the LGBTQ+ community during race weekends. He has also worn shirts in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and a shirt that called for the arrest of the police officers who shot Breonna Taylor.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem told reporters that the aim is to “improve and clean up.” He would also prefer drivers stick to driving and leave their “private personal agendas” at home.
“You can use sport for peace reasons,” Ben Sulayem said. “But one thing we don’t want is to have the FIA as a platform for private personal agenda. We will divert from the sport. What does the driver do best? Driving. They are so good at it, and they make the business, they make the show, they are the stars.”
Ben Sulayem added that he wants F1 to be apolitical.
“I have my own personal things, OK, but it doesn’t mean I will use the FIA to do it,” he said. “The FIA should be neutral, I believe. We need the superstars in to make the sport.”
Meanwhile, Vettel became more active and vocal about political and environmental issues in his final seasons. In addition to calling for steps to stop climate change and supporting lesser-known initiatives like saving bees, he has supported the LGBTQ+ community with rainbow shirts and masks.
When the change was first announced, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown supported the FIA’s decision to be more strict about which causes the drivers are allowed to promote, saying he didn’t want F1 to turn into “a political sport.”
“Everyone is allowed freedom of speech,” Brown told ESPN. “It did get out of control at times with so much messaging going on…. Does it detract from the focus of the sport? These drivers can do this stuff in their own time, so I think it is within Formula One and the FIA’s right to say here’s the code of conduct we expect for you to follow during a Grand Prix weekend.”
Brown also tried to downplay the change, noting that drivers can still ask.
“I’m glad the door is open for drivers and teams to talk to the FIA if there’s an issue they want to discuss,” Brown said. “It wasn’t a ‘You can’t do it.’ It was ‘You can’t do it without our permission.’ So at least the door is open.”
It will be interesting to see if Hamilton tries to determine where that line is when the F1 season begins in early March.
The FIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.
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