Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing, supports the new FIA rule that prohibits drivers from making political statements or protesting at races.
Drivers are prohibited from “the any general making and display of the political, religious, or personal statements” without prior and permission, according to a new FIA sporting regulation.
This follows Sebastian Vettel’s retirement, one of the most outspoken drivers on the Formula One grid.
ESPN received Brown’s thoughts on the decision, and he stated that motorsports must strike a balance between these statements.
“It’s hard, isn’t it? Brown stated that this is due to the fact that some of the topics are excellent, while others are contentious and polarizing.
” A new political agenda for one person. Because it may distract from what everyone has tuned in to, which is their desire to watch a grand prix, I don’t think that’s healthy.
Brown’s sentiment remains strong, but he also said that drivers should be able to talk to the FIA if they want to make this kind of gesture.
” Because these drivers can complete these tasks at their own pace, I believe it is within Formula One and the FIA’s rights to stipulate the following code of conduct during a grand prix weekend.
We should avoid turning Formula One into a political sport, I believe. Let’s just go racing and treat the track with respect. I believe there is a good way for every team, driver, and political agenda to carry their values in a way that is not controversial.
In all of these sports, it’s becoming a hot topic. Taking a knee was the first rule in the NFL. In Qatar, you have armbands. I think those things can start to diverge from sports, and we need to strike a balance here.
Drivers have become more vocal about social and political issues in recent years, with Sir Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel leading the charge.
Vettel has used his racing platform to bring attention to environmental issues, such as wearing a helmet that said “Save the Bees” at the Austrian Grand Prix this year. He claimed that the climate’s ongoing decline made him question his place in Formula One.
Lewis Hamilton may be the most outspoken driver when it comes to social issues because he led the grid in its collective anti-racism protests and wore a shirt that said.
Both Hamilton and Vettel have attended previous Hungarian Grand Prix events in outfits with rainbow colors, and Hamilton wore a helmet with rainbow colors to the Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi rounds of the 2021 season.