"F1 will never put a gag on anyone," said Domenicali. "Everyone wants to talk so to have the platform to say what they want in the right way the better it is."
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The chief executive of Formula One, Stefano Domenicali, has declared that the sport will never gag anyone in response to a preseason dispute between drivers and the governing FIA over “political” statements and free speech. The Italian, who represents Liberty Media, a company with commercial rights in the United States, told the Guardian newspaper that he also anticipated clarification from the sport’s governing body in Paris. A clause requiring prior written consent for drivers to make or display “political, religious, and personal statements or comments” at races was added by the FIA to its updated International Sporting Code last December.
The move has been condemned by rights groups and criticised by drivers, who have spoken of their disappointment and uncertainty. “F1 will never put a gag on anyone,” said Domenicali. “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 multi-valued.”
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“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. 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.”
“I believe the FIA will clarify what has been stated, in terms of respecting certain places where you cannot do it,” Domenicali added. “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.”
After a rule change raised questions, Alex Albon, a driver for Williams, stated on Monday that Formula One drivers need more direction from the sport’s governing FIA regarding what they can say at races this season. A clause requiring prior written consent for drivers to make or display “political, religious, and personal statements or comments” was added to the International Sporting Code by the FIA last December. The manoeuvre generated discussion during the offseason because it was unclear how it would be used in actual practise.
“It seems quite a broad subject….we need clarity from the FIA on what they are trying to tell us,” Albon told reporters. “On a personal side it is somewhat confusing … we were very much for ‘We Race As One’ and all these kind of situations and so now it seems like the FIA are trying to go away from that. So we need to see. We need to be open in dialogue about what they are trying to do. We need to be able to speak freely to some extent. I’m sure we’re going to get clarity later on what really they are trying to say.”
