One of the most committed drivers on the grid, seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton assures him: "nothing will prevent me from talking about the things that fascinate me and the problems that exist because sport has a responsibility - that of always speak out on important issues to raise awareness".

Speaking on Wednesday on the sidelines of the presentation of the new Mercedes single-seater for 2023, the Briton reacted for the first time publicly to the decision taken in December by the FIA ​​to ban the "general wording and posting of statements or comments political, religious and personal", in particular on the part of the pilots, without agreement.

This decision by the FIA ​​"does not surprise me", assured Hamilton, who regularly takes an open position for a cause during Grands Prix, in particular by messages on his clothes or on his helmet.

In 2020, on the podium of the Grand Prix of Tuscany, the 38-year-old pilot had for example put on a T-shirt calling for "arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor", a black woman killed by the police in her apartment in the States -United.

This act had already led the FIA ​​to review its protocol rules during post-race ceremonies.

F1 driver Lewis Hamilton wears a t-shirt demanding "the arrest of the police who killed Breonna" Taylor in the United States, on the podium of the Tuscan GP, ​​September 13, 2020 © JENNIFER LORENZINI / POOL/AFP/Archives

Principle of neutrality

Same story among the competition: "we are all worried, we know that politics and positions are sensitive areas, but we need clarity from the FIA ​​on what it is trying to tell us", pleaded the Thai Alexander Albon (Williams), who calls for an "open dialogue".

In a press release sent in the wake of the revision of its International Sporting Code (CSI), the FIA ​​- which regulates, among other things, the F1, rally (WRC) and endurance (WEC) world championships - explained in particular that it had acted "in accordance with the political neutrality of sport as a fundamental universal ethical principle of the Olympic Movement, enshrined in the Code of Ethics of the International Olympic Committee".

But Albon retorted: "many people consider us to be the spokespersons of problems in the world, it is the responsibility of the pilots to sensitize people to these kinds of situations".

Thai driver Alexander Albon before a practice session for the Mexican GP on October 27, 2022 in Mexico City © ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP/Archives

The reigning double world champion Max Verstappen believes that everyone should "be allowed" to express themselves.

“Some people will talk more than others, of course, but I find this measure to be somewhat unnecessary,” he defended at the microphone of Sky Sports.

"Freedom of expression"

For the Briton George Russell, it is above all the incomprehension which reigns: "I do not really know why the FIA ​​has adopted such a position".

"I'm sure the situation will be clarified and I hope - I'm sure - it will be before the first race (March 5 in Bahrain). I can't imagine that they want to prevent the one of us to express our opinions," teammate Hamilton said.

"It's part of freedom of expression, we have the right to share our opinions."

For the moment, the nature of the sanctions is not known.

For his part, F1 boss Stefano Domenicali assured in early February that "F1 will never gag anyone".

F1 boss, Italian Stefano Domenicali, on the sidelines of the Las Vegas GP, November 5, 2022 © WADE VANDERVORT / AFP/Archives

"We are talking about 20 drivers, 10 teams and many sponsors who have different ideas, different points of view," the Italian continued in an interview with British daily The Guardian.

"I can't say who's right and who's wrong, but it's fair, if necessary, to give them a platform to discuss their opinions openly."

© 2023 AFP