Wolff: FIA political ban on drivers won't be 'harsh'

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes the FIA's crackdown on drivers using F1 as a platform for making political statements won't be as "harsh" as anticipated.

The FIA has amended its International Sporting Code which now includes a provision that bans drivers from expressing or displaying "political, religious and personal statements", unless previously approved by the governing body.

In the past few seasons, political and environmental activism came to the fore in F1, with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel using their platform as Grand Prix drivers to regularly denounce on race weekends injustice, inequalities or climate change issues.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem personally approved the introduction of the new sporting rule.

"One thing we don’t want is to have the FIA as a platform for private personal agenda. We will divert from the sport," he said recently.

Wolff said that he hadn't yet had the opportunity to speak to Hamilton about the changes.

"We haven't talked about the political situation because he's in his off-season and I think it's important to shield yourself from F1," commented the Mercedes boss last Friday in an online call with the media.

"This is what I'm very much doing, helping to shield. Once he's back, these things will certainly be discussed with a positive mindset."

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Brown: FIA right to constrain drivers' political statements

Given the positive relationship that exists between Hamilton and the FIA, Wolff reckons the governing body will eventually soften its stance a bit on the matter.

"I think we need to see how this really pans out", the Austrian added. "We understand that sports are not here to make politics but on the contrary, unite.

"I have no doubt that Mohammad and the FIA mean well, to achieve the right things. It’s just about aligning that with the drivers who have been more outspoken in the past.

"Everytime Mohammad has spoken to Lewis, and the other way around, It has ended up in a positive conversation.

"So I have no doubt that once these people sit on the table together that things will not appear as harsh when they are being written down in the off-season."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.