Bottas at odds with FIA ban on drivers' political statements

40

Valtteri Bottas has expressed his concerns with the FIA's crackdown on drivers using F1 as a platform for making political statements.

At the end of last year, motorsport's governing body amended its International Sporting Code which now includes a provision that bans drivers from expressing or displaying "political, religious and personal statements", unless they have been previously approved by the FIA.

The FIA's decision followed several years during which political and environmental activism was exhibited in F1, with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel often using their notoriety on race day to denounce social injustice, inequalities, or climate change issues.

However, under the governance of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, a change of policy has been implemented.

"I am a big believer in the sport," said Ben Sulayem, speaking to the media while visiting the Dakar rally earlier this month in Saudi Arabia.

"We are concerned with building bridges. You can use sport for peace reasons and all of this.

"But one thing we don’t want is to have the FIA as a platform for private personal agenda. We will divert from the sport."

Read also:

Brown: FIA right to constrain drivers' political statements

Hamilton has yet to publicly comment on the FIA's stance, but his former Mercedes teammate has made clear that he's unimpressed with the governing body's desire to control the drivers' freedom of expression.

"Personally, I don’t like politics," Bottas told Sweden's Expressen during last weekend's ROC.

"I like to do what I love, which is racing, but politics is at the same time part of today’s society.

"I think Formula 1 has done a good job of paying attention to some of these kinds of issues and many drivers have raised their voices, including Sebastian [Vettel].”

"I do not understand why they want to control us. I think we should have the right to talk about what we want. That is how I see it, but we will see what happens."

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

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.