Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is one of the most outspoken personalities currently driving in F1.
The seven-time world champion led the Black Lives Matter movement in the sport and promotes equality and diversity for better representation in the pinnacle of motorsport.
However, any such theatrics from Hamilton in the future will not be viewed kindly by F1’s governing body FIA.
It has announced an update to its International Sporting Conduct for the upcoming season.
The update basically stops drivers from being able to make any gesture or act that is a “display of political, religious and personal statements” without the prior approval of FIA.
“The ISC has been updated in alignment with the political neutrality of sport as a universal fundamental ethical principle of the Olympic Movement, enshrined in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Code of Ethics, together with the principle of the universality set out in Article 1.2,” a FIA spokesperson said.
The International Olympics Committee has a strict Code of Ethics in place.
It requires athletes to “respect of the principle of the universality and political neutrality of the Olympic Movement”.
With FIA getting full recognition from the IOC in 2013, it is imperative for it to function in a way that the IOC finds acceptable.
The Olympic charter of the Olympic Movement states: “Recognising that sport occurs within the framework of society, sports organisations within the Olympic Movement shall apply political neutrality.
“They have the rights and obligations of autonomy, which include freely establishing and controlling the rules of sport, determining the structure and governance of their organisations, enjoying the right of elections free from any outside influence and the responsibility for ensuring that principles of good governance be applied.”
While Hamilton may not be able to enjoy taking a political stance anymore, the FIA’s rules are also inclined towards inclusivity.
“The FIA shall promote the protection of human rights and human dignity, and refrain from manifesting discrimination on account of race, skin colour, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, language, religion, philosophical or political opinion, family situation or disability in the course of its activities and from taking any action in this respect,” the FIA states.
“The FIA will focus on underrepresented groups in order to achieve a more balanced representation of gender and race and to create a more diverse and inclusive culture.”
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