Valtteri Bottas has expressed concern over the FIA’s crackdown on drivers using F1 as a political platform.
Late last year, motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, amended the International Sporting Code to ban drivers from making or displaying “political, religious or personal statements” without prior approval from the FIA.
The FIA’s decision reflects political and environmental activism in F1, with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel often using their fame on race day to denounce social injustice, inequality and climate change issues.
However, under the governance of the FIA president, Mohamed bin Sulayem, there was a change of policy.
“I have a lot of faith in the sport,” Mohamed bin Sulayem told the media after visiting the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.
“We are interested in building bridges. Sports can be used for peace.”
“But one thing we don’t want is for the FIA to be a platform for personal intentions. We will turn away from sport.”
Lewis Hamilton has yet to publicly comment on the FIA’s stance, but former Mercedes F1 teammate Valtteri Bottas has revealed that he is unimpressed by the governing body’s desire to control drivers’ freedom of expression.
“Personally, I don’t like politics,” Valtteri Bottas told Sweden’s Expressen at the ROC last weekend.
“I like to do what I love, which is racing. But politics is also part of modern society.”
“I think F1 has done a good job of addressing some of these types of issues and many drivers have spoken out, including Sebastian[Vettel].
“I don’t understand why they would try to control us. We should have the right to talk about what we want. That’s my opinion, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Category: F1 / Valtteri Bottas / Alfa Romeo F1
