Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali insists that the sport does not with to “gag” drivers from speaking out on personal and political issues.
His comment comes amid a ban on unapproved political, personal and religious statements from the FIA, which was outlined in an updated version of the governing body’s International Sporting Code.
The issue was condemned by drivers such as Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas, while Alexander Albon admitted that there was concern across the grid over the matter.
But speaking to The Guardian, Domenicali asserts that the sport will back the drivers to retain the right to speak about subjects close to them.
“F1 will never put a gag on anyone,” he said. “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 multivalued.
“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.”
The FIA and its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem have been under for introducing the regulation – however Domenicali believes that it will move to soon clarify the rule.
“We are talking about a regulation and the regulator is the FIA,” he said. “I believe the FIA will clarify what has been stated, in terms of respecting certain places where you cannot do it.
“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.”
Domenicali added that F1 is in consistent communication with the drivers to keep them informed over the matter.
“We keep monitoring the situation,” he added. “We keep the drivers informed, we meet with the Grand Prix Drivers’ Associations to discuss it.
“How we can allow the drivers to be open as human beings in our sport. Athletes can be very emotional and passionate about some things and they need to discuss that constructively with people they trust.
“I had a discussion with the drivers about this last year. About how F1 could be a platform, to have a spotlight on certain things we believe are right to talk about.
“F1 should help the drivers if they want to discuss certain subjects. It is important to have a very constructive dialogue. If this is not happening it can create either confusion or problems where there need not be problems.”
