Dear FIA, a ban on making political statements is in fact, a political statement
Imagine my surprise when the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body of motorsports, announced a clampdown on all drivers, including at Formula 1, from making any non-neutral “political, religious or personal” statements or comments without prior permission. The clampdown was defined in an update to The International Sporting Code. The FIA clarified, it was more of an amendment, in a later statement following public backlash.
Competitors were also advised that “failure to comply with the instructions of the FIA regarding the appointment and participation of persons during official ceremonies at any Competition counting towards a FIA Championship” will now be considered a breach of the regulations.
Politics and sport are intrinsically intertwined
Athletes are human beings who are members of the society and our societies operate on political structures. They see, hear and live through the experiences that affect everyone else and they have a right to voice their opinions on those experiences, whether or not another party agrees with the opinions. If the other party disagrees, then they equally have a right to speak that opinion.
The excuse that sport is a form of escapism dehumanizes the athletes and performers. They are not circus animals plastered in front of our eyes solely for our entertainment and then caged back until the next race, match, tour, competition, etc. Once they get off those tracks they live in the same world that we do. Wealthy or otherwise, they are neither oblivious nor impervious to the prejudices and injustices that political structures may create, maintain, or refuse to dismantle in our societies.
The irony in all this remains: is silencing and taking away a person’s right to free speech not political? The existence of other groups, and those who are marginalised, should not invoke fear unless you are preserving an oppressive status quo that perpetuates your own political and economic benefits. Sport has a responsibility to shine a light on ethical issues in the society and denying human beings their right to talk about these issues is a politically motivated move.
FIA Clarification on clampdown
The FIA, however, ended up with eggs on their faces. Fans, drivers and some teams responded passionately and resoundingly said “no!”. Following a near-unanimous wave of pushback from all corners, a surprising one at that given how F1 fans and teams are usually quite divided and tribal, the FIA released another statement. A “clarification” if you may.
The new statement read that the FIA could allow some statements in “exceptional circumstances”. An embarrassing PR disaster. While they’re no strangers to being the antagonists of their own sport, rarely is it ever on subjects as sensitive as these.
It is alarming in itself that an athlete saying, for example, “a marginalised group of people suffering from social inequities deserve better treatment,” is now considered a politically charged and divisive statement.
The FIA are fully aware of their hypocrisy and how devoid of substance and any form of humanity these claims are, which is why their most important objective with the clampdown is trying to get the fans to agree with them and to turn against the athletes and their statements. It is why they are so keen to remind the fans that these racers are just entertainers first, human beings second.
Previous displays of socially and politically messages
At the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello, Lewis Hamilton caused a stir when he wore a T-shirt on the podium that read: ‘Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor’. It featured a picture of her face and the words: ‘Say her name.’ on the back.
Other drivers have previously made political statements using their race wear too.
Sebastian Vettel when he wore a helmet featuring the messages “Stop mining tar sands” and “Canada’s climate crime” at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve last year. Canadian politicians criticized him for it. The four time world champion did not follow through with the design for the grand prix. He has since retired.
Shut up and drive
In 2022, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who replaced Jean Todt in the role, contrasted Hamilton and Vettel’s outspoken stance on social issues with that of past drivers. Ben Sulayem held up likes of Niki Lauda and Alain Prost, who he said “only cared about driving” as examples.
“Now, Vettel drives a rainbow bicycle, Lewis is passionate about human rights and Lando Norris addresses mental health,” said Ben Sulayem.
“Everybody has the right to think. To me, it is about deciding whether we should impose our believes in something over the sport all the time.”
He later issued a statement stressing his commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Stefano Domenicali meanwhile, said on the FIA’s political statement ban: “F1 will never put a gag on anyone. Everyone wants to talk so to have the platform to say what they want in the right way the better it is. We have a huge opportunity because of the position of our sport”
George Russell also spoke out on the FIA political statement clampdown.
“I’m not too sure why the FIA have taken a stance like this. I think it’s totally unnecessary, and in the sport and in the world, we live in now.
The Mercedes driver added, “We’re not going to limit our views or our thoughts because of some silly regulation.
“We are all here to have free speech and share whatever views we may have.”
We race as one
In the end one has to ask, does the FIA really believe that politics and sports shouldn’t mix? Or is it only that the politics don’t align with the beliefs and interests of their obscenely wealthy elite higher ups, sponsors, benefactors and decision makers that is troubling them?
