Kevin Magnussen is the latest Formula 1 driver that has spoken out against the FIA’s plan to prohibit drivers from making unapproved political, personal and religious statements during race weekends.
Across the last handful of years, drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have used their F1 platform to highlight matters such as equality and climate change.
Their activism was prominent during the pre-race procedures on the grid, often through the use of t-shirts that carried messages.
Shortly after the conclusion of the 2022 season, the FIA updated its International Sporting Code, in which it outlawed political statements across all of its motorsport disciplines.
A number of drivers, including Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon, have reacted negatively to the FIA’s injunction.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Magnussen, who is entering his eighth F1 season, says there needs to be further clarification from the FIA over the clampdown.
“I was surprised. I still need to understand it, I guess many of us still kind of need to understand what that means,” he said.
“I’m from a part of the world, I grew up in a country where we are all free to express our views and religions. [We’re] free to speak our mind.
“I think that’s a value that I appreciate and would like to see in F1 as well. I’m curious to see how that goes and how conversations are going to go.”
Magnussen says that he doesn’t necessarily plan to make such statements, but highlighted that it is important that the drivers have the right to do so if they please.
His comments mirror those of Nico Hulkenberg, who has re-joined the F1 grid with Haas this year to partner Magnussen at the US-owned squad.
When asked if drivers would still carry on to speak out on causes that are important, he said: “Yeah, absolutely.
“But of course, we’re here to race and we don’t want to get penalties imposed on us because of different things. It’s just not great.
“I would like to have the freedom. Not that I necessarily plan to do anything, but just having that freedom is an essential value.”
McLaren team boss Zak Brown has shown support for the ban, believing that driver activism got “out of control” at times across the last couple of years.
However, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff says that he expects the situation will not be as harsh as it currently seems once the season gets underway.
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