Hamilton warns FIA: ‘Nothing prevents me from speaking’

Last December, the FIA ​​added a controversial change to the international sporting code to ban drivers on the F1 grid or FIA competition from making political statements during official events starting in 2023. The new article added a new Article 12.2.1.n of this Code that states, “You may not make and publicly display any political, religious or personal statements or comments that materially violate the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA ​​by its Statutes. Many drivers were against the change, and Lewis Hamilton made his intentions clear at a press conference after unveiling his new car for 2023, the Mercedes W14.

The pilot was not surprised that the FIA ​​acted in this way, but assured him that nothing would stop his constant calls to promote equality and combat discrimination of all kinds.

“I haven’t been reading the news over the winter, but I have heard of it. Not surprising. Neither,” said the MD at a virtual conference he attended.

“Sport still feels responsible. Talking about things and raising awareness about important issues is always necessary, especially when we travel to so many different places. Nothing changes for me,” he said. Continue to promote equality worldwide within the Grand Prix.

In this sense, the FIA ​​has not specified what sanctions a driver who wants to make his point within a grand prix risks facing and that penalties for saying what he thinks are of no importance to him. “I think it’s silly to say you want to get penalty points for talking about things, but like I said, I’m still going to speak my mind and we’re still going through this.” We have the platform (F1), so there are still ..a lot of things we have to deal with,” the Brit added.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the ‘great circus’ would silence no one, and in this sense, Lewis was confident about the top of the category. I think all the advocates have united for freedom of expression, and I think we all agree on that,” he concluded on this point.