Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali has responded to the FIA's clampdown on drivers expressing political statements, insisting the sport "will never put a gag one anyone".
The FIA recently 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 move is seen by many as a censorship effort aimed specifically at Lewis Hamilton who has often used F1's platform to call the public's attention on social injustice and inequalities.
But all drivers up and down the ranks are concerned by the governing body's measure.
So far Hamilton has yet to address the FIA's stance, but as F1 exits its winter break, drivers are progressively coming to the fore to express their view on the controversial matter.
Last week in New York, Max Verstappen called the FIA's decision "a bit unnecessary", while Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas also opposed any form of censorship, a view also shared by Williams' Alex Albon.
Read also:
- Verstappen: FIA ban on political statements 'a bit unnecessary'
- Bottas at odds with FIA ban on drivers' political statements
Now, in an interview published in The Guardian, Domenicali has followed suit.
"F1 will never put a gag on anyone," said the F1 boss. "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."
Domenicali not only opposes the FIA's new policy regarding activism in F1, the Italian has actually encouraged drivers to use the sport's platform - with F1's help - to shine the "spotlight" on matters that warrant an open discussion.
"I had a discussion with the drivers about this last year," he said. "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.
"We keep monitoring the situation. We keep the drivers informed, we meet with the GPDA 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."
Domenciali also made clear that he is expecting more clarity from the FIA on its new policy and on what may or may not be permitted in terms of free speech.
"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."
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