FIA issues statement after criticism over ban on political statements
F1 News
- GPblog.com
It emerged on Tuesday that the FIA has imposed a new ban in the International Sporting Code whereby Formula 1 drivers will no longer be allowed to make political statements without the FIA's approval. The news was followed by a lot of criticism online and so the governing body has responded with a statement.
Speaking to The Race and others, an FIA spokesperson gave a statement on the new ban. According to the spokesperson, the sport wants to preserve the concept of political neutrality. "The ISC has been updated in alignment with the political neutrality of sport as a universal fundamental ethical principle of the Olympic Movement, enshrined in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Code of Ethics, together with the principle of the universality set out in Article 1.2," the statement read.
"Additionally as stated in Article 1.2 of the FIA Statutes, the FIA shall promote the protection of human rights and human dignity, and refrain from manifesting discrimination on account of race, skin colour, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, language, religion, philosophical or political opinion, family situation or disability in the course of its activities and from taking any action in this respect."
FIA continues to promote diversity and inclusion
Wearing special helmets and T-shirts will also presumably no longer be allowed, without permission, something that Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton in particular have taken advantage of in recent years to champion various social issues. The FIA stresses in the statement that the governing body remains committed to diversity and inclusiveness in sport.
"The FIA will focus on underrepresented groups in order to achieve a more balanced representation of gender and race and to create a more diverse and inclusive culture," the FIA spokesperson ends.