In the smoldering debate about political messages in Formula 1, the world association insists on its stricter ban course.
In a three-page letter to the racing teams, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) once again made it clear that political or religious statements on the race track can in future be considered a violation of the rules if they have not been previously permitted.
This applies to statements or signals during the award ceremonies, the drivers’ parade or even during official press conferences, provided that the drivers do not answer a journalist’s direct question.
Criticism from the paddock
A number of Formula 1 drivers had recently criticized the tightening of the rules. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, most recently one of the spokesmen in the paddock alongside Sebastian Vettel, said that “nothing can stop me from talking about the things that interest me passionately”. The governing body justifies its harder line with the general principle of neutrality to which the FIA is subject as a member of the Olympic family.
In a longer catalogue, the FIA also gives a number of examples of themes for possible prohibited messages, gestures or symbols. Statements about parties and organizations are therefore just as undesirable as statements about military conflicts or the oppression of minorities. Crossing or pointing to heaven is exempt from the ban on religious messages.
However, the pilots are not bound by the new directive on their social media channels. The FIA assured them that they can continue to express themselves freely in television interviews. The race stewards will decide on possible sanctions in the event of violations of the rule on expression of opinion. The catalog of penalties ranges from a warning to exclusion.