Formula 1 star rails against new Fia rule

formula 1

The new Formula 1 season is already casting its shadow. Before the premier class starts the new season with the race in Bahrain in almost three weeks, the teams are currently gradually presenting their cars for the new season.

From February 23rd to 25th, the tests before the start of the season are still pending. Then at the latest there will be initial assessments of the levels of the various cars and what the teams are capable of. Due to rule changes, adjustments had to be made to the cars, including the underbody and the front wing.

Lando Norris criticizes Fia’s decision

However, there are not only technical innovations in Formula 1, but also those aimed at the behavior of the drivers. Accordingly, the pilots are no longer allowed to make “political, religious and personal statements”. Statements that are to be interpreted in this direction must first be approved by the world association Fia.

Lando Norris was confronted with this rule during the presentation of the new Mclaren “MCL60”. The 23-year-old found clear words: “We’re not in school. We shouldn’t have to ask, ‘Can we do this? Can we do that?'”

Norris went on to explain that the riders want to guide and help their millions of fans. “We should be able to say and do what we want. That’s what makes a human, what makes us, what makes us human. We’re just trying to help and give advice to the people of the world, and there’s no reason we can’t do that,” Norris said.

So far, Formula 1 drivers have repeatedly sent political messages. For example, in June 2022, when Russia was already waging a war of aggression in Ukraine, Sebastian Vettel wore a white T-shirt with the words “Friends” and “Peace” in Russian while racing in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

At the first race in Saudi Arabia in December 2021, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher drew attention to the miserable situation surrounding women’s rights with a wide variety of actions and statements. Hamilton, for example, drove with a helmet in rainbow colors and demanded: “There are still some changes to come.”

Formula 1 wants to control such statements in the future. Much to the annoyance of the drivers. Sebastian Vettel, who ended his career after last season, also criticized the Fia move.

He said to the “tz” and the “Münchner Merkur”: “I think it’s absolutely important to take a stance on some issues, and we’ve seen more and more stances being taken in recent years. To steer against it now somehow doesn’t make that much sense.”