The Formula One chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, has insisted the sport “will never put a gag on anyone”, after the FIA announced a clampdown banning political statements. Domenicali was unequivocal in stating F1’s owners stand behind drivers’ rights to speak out on the issues they believe in and that he expects the governing body to issue a clarification of its stance in the near future.
The FIA is facing an increasingly vehement backlash from drivers and teams who believe it has been unnecessarily heavy-handed and uncompromising. In December the FIA updated its International Sporting Code (ISC), banning drivers from making “political, religious or personal” statements or comments without permission.
