#the fia is silencing free speech

[ilikecarsandlike4people]

FIA bans drivers from making ‘political statements’ without permission The FIA announces the end for freedom of speech.

It's never the same rules for everyone. It is blatant silencing of people speaking out. It is pushing down advocacy in hopes of money. Of hoping to appeal to sponsors that oppose human rights. It's never been about "preventing hate speech". The only protests I've seen have been peaceful. They've been of support and solidarity. They've been of the environment, human rights, kindness. This is a blatant attack disguised as necessary change. Why is it that after Seb left, this kind of ruling is set in place?

[f1]

FIA clarifies new rules on freedom of speech in bid to defuse row with drivers

Formula One’s governing body has attempted to defuse an increasingly fractious row with drivers over restrictions on their freedom of speech. The FIA has issued a clarification of the ban on “political, religious or personal” comments being made without permission. The update sets out the scenarios where drivers will be free to express themselves. The regulation, imposed in December, has proved hugely unpopular with drivers. This week Lewis Hamilton said he would not be silenced, while the F1 chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, has said the sport would not “gag the drivers”. With dissatisfaction gaining momentum, the FIA sent a clarification to the 10 teams on Friday in an effort to see off a potential showdown with the drivers. The FIA said: “The focus at any international competition must remain on motorsport and on the performances of teams and drivers.” The document specifies that statements will not be permitted without prior permission within the bounds of “international competition” which it defines as on-track action, the podium, driver parade and national anthem ceremonies and it would include visual gestures. This is largely in line with existing rules but the document has been clear that in areas “outside the scope of international competition” drivers will be completely free to express themselves both at and away from the track. This would include social media, interviews both written and on televisionas well as official FIA press conferences. At the latter, however, while drivers are not allowed to make unsolicited statements they will be able to answer with complete freedom any questions asked by reporters. The document noted that breaking its definitions would result in penalties which could run from reprimands, through fines, a grid drop, time penalty or potentially suspension or exclusion. It would only be in “exceptional” circumstances that the FIA would grant permission for a driver to make a statement that would otherwise be prohibited by the “principle of neutrality”, adopted to come into line with International Olympic Committee regulations, with the FIA an IOC federation. A spokesperson for the FIA said: “The updates cement the FIA’s longstanding commitment to protecting motor sport’s neutrality.” Some grey areas remain, however, notably that of drivers’ helmets. They are clearly visible during the race and covered by the ban as being within sporting competition. In 2021 Hamilton wore a helmet withsported rainbow livery in support of the LGBTQ+ community rights in both Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It is understood that under the new rules he would have to have sought written permission to do so at least four weeks in advance. The same would apply to a team wanting to run the rainbow colours on their car. At the World Cup in Qatar last year Fifa and the host nation attracted widespread criticism for banning “One Love” armbands and preventing fans from wearing rainbow colours into stadiums. The FIA’s clarification had been expected but many are now questioning why it took so long to issue the detail around the regulation and that it did so only after an almost universal swathe of defiance from drivers. via Formula One | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sport/formulaone

[mistressemmedi]

i would also like to point that it's entirely possible to disagree with how a person sends out a message, but not agree to the right to do so being taken away from them. helmut marko might be an ass sometimes, but he is not a cartoon villain. it's not like he sits around and plot lewis' demise. i know hating red bull is popular, and they do stupid things sometimes that warrant criticism, but they are not tolkien villains whose entire life is about destroying merc or its drivers

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i was the anon who sent the og ask, idk maybe my use of "scapegoat" kind of misled people but my whole point was that i just don't believe f1 suddenly started to care about politics or the right of free speech (while they were the ones trying to silence whoever said anything last year) but more like using this highly controversial decision as another reaso to sack sulayem who caused/might cause them monetary losses. we have just recently saw a fia and liberal circus over the alleged "price" of the sport. not mentioning the overall discontent among teams over andretti's join to the grid bc it will dilute their prize money.

Coming to helmut, this wasn't me hating on redbull drivers and i can assure neither helmut, redbull or any of the rbr drivers are so called victims of villainization. He isn't an old man who might be an ass sometimes but he is one of the most influential people in this sport and he knows what he is talking about. He might not be plotting lewis's demise but he was never hesitant to vocalize his disagreement over his actions. And i don't think a man who blames british media in juri vips' demotion over using racial slurs will draw the line at the right of speech about the topics he very mich disagrees with.

Again ofc just my personal opinion but i just wanted to clarify what i meant at the first post and also pls we don't need to find excuses for old white men who remind us who they really are 24/7.

Cheers fam, I appreciate you dropping by my inbox and sharing your thoughts respectfully ☺️ we all good fam

[ilikecarsandlike4people]

Valtteri Bottas: I think everybody should be allowed to say what they want

Valtteri Bottas voices his opinion on the FIA rule around drivers making political statements and expressing personal opinions on events go on in the world. (Sky sports)

[ilikecarsandlike4people]

Valtteri Bottas in an interview to Swedish newspaper Expressen about FIAs ruling against "personal causes":

"Personally, I don't like politics. I like to do what I love, which is racing. But politics are important part of todays society. I think F1 has done a good job at pointing out issues like these (in the past), and many drivers have raised their voices, including Sebastian," says the Finnish F1 star, and continues: "I don't understand why they want to control us. I think we should have the right to say what we want to say. That's how I see it, but we'll wait to see what happens."

(Original quote)

"Personligen gillar jag inte politik. Jag gillar att göra det jag älskar, vilket är racingen, men politik är samtidigt en del av dagens samhälle. Jag tycker att formel 1 har gjort ett bra jobb med att uppmärksamma några av den här typen av frågor och många förare har höjt sina röster, bland annat Sebastian, säger den finska formel 1-stjärnan och fortsätter:

– Jag förstår inte varför de vill kontrollera oss. Jag tycker att vi borde ha rätten att prata om det vi vill. Det är så jag ser på det hela, men vi får se vad som händer."