If they are charging that much for a License, on top of the entry fee, why are the Martials still volunteers?
The FIA can more than afford to pay for them.
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F1 2023
- Thread starter Hamster
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The FIA can more than afford to pay for them.
I still haven't found the original Document but I do have a source that I trust:
An update to the FIA's International Sporting Code means that drivers will now need to obtain written permission before making any form of political statement.[URL='https://www.pitpass.com/74328/Sporting-Code-update-to-see-drivers-gagged' said:
In 2020, with the season already compromised by the pandemic, Lewis Hamilton began wearing T-Shirts sporting the Black Lives Matter logo as the world resonated to the infamous murder of George Floyd.
As more drivers began to follow suit, at the Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello, race winner Hamilton stood atop the podium in a T-Shirt which sported the slogan: 'Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor' on the front and 'Say Her Name' on the back in reference to the black woman killed by police earlier in the year.
As a result, the FIA acted and ruled that on the grid and on the podium drivers had to wear their race suits which had to be fastened up to the neck.
Nonetheless, drivers continued to make similar statement on all manner of issues, including diversity, the environment and LGBTQ+ rites.
Sebastian Vettel was censured for wearing a 'rainbow' shirt, sporting the phrase 'Same Love' in Hungary, while he and Hamilton have worn helmets bearing the Pride colours. The four-time world champion has also worn T-shirts promoting environmental causes.
With the sport falling over itself to present a squeaky clean image, the newfound activism of drivers and their teams went down a treat. However, with F1 increasingly visiting countries where their attitude to human rights has been questioned, there were fears of an obvious clash.
Though the likes of Qatar and Saudi Arabia insist that they are not using F1 to 'sports-wash' their image, the fact is that there are various issues on which activists do not agree.
In the latest update to its International Sporting Code, the FIA states: "The general making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments notably in violation of the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA under its Statutes, unless previously approved in writing by the FIA for International Competitions, or by the relevant ASN for National Competitions within their jurisdiction."
In other words, before a driver can make any form of statement he will require written permission.
Of course, by essentially painting drivers into a corner it means that anyone who ignored the ruling and went ahead with their protest though facing punishment would attract even greater publicity, and thereby sympathy (or not) for their particular cause.
All of which appears to fly in the face of F1's very own We Race As One declaration, or doesn't that particular case of virtue signalling count?
Many insists that politics has no place in sport, while others claim it is a sign of the times and that sport must play a part in improving people’s lives.
However, if the sport continues to visit countries where there are human rights abuses - and it seems determined to do so - it is merely doing what many have accused certain people of over the recent World Cup, in that they are willing to turn a blind eye as long as the money's right.
On the other hand, while one can point to the obvious culprits in terms of human rights abuse, in all honesty there are very few - if any - countries on the calendar that can honestly claim to having no skeletons in their closets.
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Speedster
Honorary Master
Question. Who decides what is a human right?
quovadis
Honorary Master
Thanks, that is what I was looking for.
quovadis
Honorary Master
Cool. The FIA backlash is deserved imho. I'm surprised it's not louder tbh.
I think it's a good move actually, imagine USA grand prix and every other driver sporting a "VOTE REP/DEM" type nonsense. Pretty sure there can be some nice paychecks for it too.
quovadis
Honorary Master
I disagree. It's a terrible move. It's hardly disruptive to the sport itself or interferes with the running of the event.
Until the drivers get death threats or attract extremists to the track who do something stupid like... sit on the track? Or even worse.
Speedster
Honorary Master
Drivers are welcome to push whatever message or agenda they want on their own platforms (social media, endorsements etc etc). When it comes to track time or FIA events they should focus on racing. What's the issue with that?
quovadis
Honorary Master
Sure guy, an F1 driver is going to run onto a track during an F1 race to protest. These regulations govern drivers not spectators.
I wasn't referring to the drivers, but those extremist "fans" that political statements would attract.
quovadis
Honorary Master
I have no issue with any freedom of expression being exercised by a driver as long as it's not disruptive to the actual event. If that's taking a knee or wearing a t-shirt or being vocal about a cause or a country during interviews that's perfectly fine by me.
quovadis
Honorary Master
Come on, you're talking about incitement here - that's a totally different thing.
Speedster
Honorary Master
I guess we're entitled to our own preferences. Me, when I sit down to watch sport, I'm doing that for relaxation and entertainment and to break away from "life". The last thing I'm interested in then is some political message. The recently completed football world cup was a great example of a sports event being about sport.
But I can see it, anti/pro-abortion/gun in USA, gay rights in the middle east, China or Russia causing some extremist fans to do something stupid.
And the FIA not putting a blanket rule over everything will just cause even more issues. Is it ok to show support for Russia in the war? Is it Ok to go full Kanye West? How much is "not too disruptive"?
Just cover all bases.
quovadis
Honorary Master
The issue has more to do with the regulations and choice of enforcement rather than ensuring the decorum of the event itself. That can be worded very differently. As it's written someone saying "I'd like to thank God, the one true God, for this win" and you'd face the FIA or a driver simply replying to a question with a simple opinion on gay rights, women rights or whatever.
I think the problem is drivers (or anyone actually) using F1 as a platform to push their political views/opinions which then gets associated with F1 and FIA.
quovadis
Honorary Master
The FIA can achieve the same without being as restrictive on the basic and fundamental rights of their participants.
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