Stefano Domenicali has been F1 president and CEO since 2021 (Photo: Getty)
Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali says he will not restrict drivers’ free speech at grand prix events this season, in spite of the FIA’s new regulations.
At the end of 2022, the governing body introduced new legislation that now prohibits: ‘The general making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments unless previously approved in writing by the FIA.’
This move has already received widespread condemnation, and with 2023 pre-season now fully underway, drivers, including Max Verstappen, Valtteri Bottas and Alex Albon have been expressing their discontent also.
Domenicali has now weighed in and promised racers that he will not stand in their way if they want to speak out on subjects like racism, diversity and the environment.
He told The Guardian: ‘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 which is more and more global, multicultural and multivalued.
‘We are talking about 20 drivers, 10 teams and many sponsors, they have different ideas, different views. I cannot say one is right, one is wrong but it is right, if needed, to give them a platform to discuss their opinions in an open way.
F1 drivers like Sebastian Vettel have continually highlighted issues like LGBT rights at races in the past (Photo: Getty)
‘We will not change that approach as a sport. That should be the line of our sport, to give everyone the chance to speak in the right way, not with aggressive tones or to offend but with respect.
‘We keep monitoring the situation, we keep the drivers informed, we meet with the Grand Prix Drivers’ Associations to discuss it, how we can allow the drivers to be open as human beings in our sport.
‘Athletes can be very emotional and passionate about some things and they need to discuss that constructively with people they trust.
FIA President Mohammed ben Sulayem is not a popular man in the F1 paddock (Photo: Getty)
‘We are talking about a regulation and the regulator is the FIA. I believe the FIA will clarify what has been stated, in terms of respecting certain places where you cannot do it.
‘I am sure the FIA will share the same view as F1 but they are part of an Olympic federation so there are protocols to which they have to abide.’
This all comes at a time when F1 chiefs and team bosses at odds with outspoken FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem on a number of issues, ranging from Andretti’s proposed entry to the valuation of the sport itself.
On Wednesday, it was announced that Sulayem would be ‘stepping back from day-to-day involvement’ in F1, something that was always pre-planned but should also ease tensions.
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The FIA have banned drivers from ‘making political, religious and personal statements.’
