McLaren chief Zak Brown BACKS new FIA rules cracking down on political statements from F1 drivers

McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown is in support of the FIA’s new rule that restricts drivers from making political statements and protests at races.

The FIA recently announced a new article to its sporting regulations, prohibiting drivers from, ‘the general making and display of political, religious or personal statements’ without prior permission.

This comes on the heels of the retirement of Sebastian Vettel – one of the more outspoken drivers on the Formula One grid. 

Zak Brown believes that the FIA is right to crack down on drivers making political statements

Zak Brown believes that the FIA is right to crack down on drivers making political statements

Brown gave his thoughts on the decision to ESPN, saying that motorsports needs to find a balance for these statements.

‘It’s tricky, right? Because some of the topics are really good, some are controversial, some are polarizing,’ Brown said. 

‘I think in general we want to be a sport that is doing good. We just need to find a balance there and not have every start of a race being a new political agenda for someone. I don’t think that’s healthy as it can detract from what everyone has tuned in to, which is they want to watch a grand prix.’

This move comes after the retirement of Sebastian Vettel (R) an outspoken activist alongside arguably Formula One's most visible and active social justice campaign Sir Lewis Hamilton

This move comes after the retirement of Sebastian Vettel (R) an outspoken activist alongside arguably Formula One’s most visible and active social justice campaign Sir Lewis Hamilton

While that sentiment remains strong from Brown, he added that the ability for drivers to speak to the FIA if they feel like making a gesture of this nature is a good thing. 

‘I’m glad the door is open for drivers and teams to talk to the FIA if there’s an issue they want to discuss. It wasn’t a ‘You can’t do it.’ It was ‘You can’t do it without our permission.’ So at least the door is open.

‘Everyone is allowed freedom of speech. It did get out of control at times with so much messaging going on … does it detract from the focus of the sport? These drivers can do this stuff in their own time, so I think it is within Formula One and the FIA’s right to say here’s the code of conduct we expect for you to follow during a grand prix weekend. 

‘You’re free to do whatever you want to do Monday through to Friday, so to speak, but obviously it’s at a grand prix weekend the drivers have the most cameras on them.’

Vettel has used his platform to advocate for saving the environment on multiple occasions

Vettel has used his platform to advocate for saving the environment on multiple occasions

‘Politics is tricky by nature. That’s what they’re probably, at a macro level, trying to avoid is let’s not have Formula One become a political hotbed for various topics. But it is damned if you do, damned if you don’t, on some of these topics.

‘I think that’s what we’re trying to avoid, let’s not turn Formula One into a political sport. Let’s just go racing and be respectful of where we’re racing. There’s not a one-size-fits-all in this world for political parties or political agendas, so I think there’s a good way that every team, driver, can carry their values in a way that’s noncontroversial.

‘It’s becoming a hot topic in all these sports. In NFL it was taking a knee, that started there. You’ve got the armbands in Qatar. I think those things can start to deviate away from sport, and that’s where we need to find the right balance.’

In 2020, Hamilton took to the podium at Mugello wearing a shirt in memory of Breonna Taylor

In 2020, Hamilton took to the podium at Mugello wearing a shirt in memory of Breonna Taylor

In recent years, drivers have become more outspoken about political and social issues – with Vettel and Sir Lewis Hamilton being two of the particularly most active in that area.

Vettel has used his platform in racing to highlight environmental concerns – including wearing a helmet advocating to ‘Save the Bees’ at this year’s Austrian Grand Prix. He said that the ongoing decline of the climate made him question his place in F1.

Lewis Hamilton might be the most vocal driver when it comes to social issues – having led the grid in its collective anti-racism protests and wearing a shirt on the podium at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello that said ‘Arrest the Cops who Killed Breonna Taylor.’

Both Hamilton and Vettel have also been vocal about the rights of the LGBTQ+ community – with both having worn rainbow colored outfits at previous editions of the Hungarian Grand Prix and Hamilton wearing a rainbow helmet in the Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi rounds of the 2021 season. Vettel was reprimanded in 2021 for his gesture.

Former F1 driver Sebastian Vettel

Mercedes F1 driver Lewis Hamilton

Both Vettel and Hamilton have been vocally in favor of the LGBTQ+ community in their careers

In the 2020 and 2021 season, the whole grid took part in F1's 'We Race As One' campaign

In the 2020 and 2021 season, the whole grid took part in F1’s ‘We Race As One’ campaign

The grid also took a stand with the people of Ukraine before testing in Bahrain in 2022

The grid also took a stand with the people of Ukraine before testing in Bahrain in 2022

Political statements have also been made by the grid as a whole in support of certain causes.

Last season, during testing in Bahrain, the entire grid took a photo wearing t-shirts saying ‘No War’ with a banner and a Ukrainian flag on the track in protest of Russia’s invasion. By that time, Haas F1 Team had already dropped Russian driver Nikita Mazepin and Formula One terminated its deal to host a Grand Prix in Sochi. (Vettel also raced in a helmet in support of Ukraine this season.)

In the 2020 season, drivers took a knee on the grid to promote social justice and protest against racial discrimination and racism. 

Prior to races in both 2020 and 2021, F1 races would air a video centered around the message of ‘We Race As One’. Those videos did not air during the 2022 season.