Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard believes sporting arena is not place to raise political issues
While Coulthard said he firmly believed in everyone’s right to freedom of expression, the 13-time Grand Prix winner advocated that athletes should not “hijack” sporting events to impose their political views on others.
Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard believes that the sports arena is not the place to raise political issues or take a stand.
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While making it clear that he firmly believes in everyone’s right to freedom of expression, the 13-time Grand Prix winner pleaded for athletes not to “hijack” sporting events to impose their political views on others.
When asked if F1 drivers and athletes from other sports have political opinions, Couthard said: “I go to watch a football game or a Grand Prix or Wimbledon to watch the sport. I don’t want to go there to be hijacked into having to hear someone’s position on any subject. Each of us has something that is important to us. Everyone has different backgrounds, religions, beliefs! We are all entitled to that. But for me, the sports arena is not where we should be (raising political issues).
“Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen or Charles Leclerc have the power to call a press conference on a Monday – outside of sport – and to speak about things that are important to them. Why not on a Monday? Let’s continue the race days,” added Coulthard, who is in Mumbai for Sunday’s Red Bull Showrun, where he will drive the RB7 car that Sebastian Vettel drove to the F1 title at Bandra’s bandstand.
In December last year, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body of Formula 1, introduced new regulations prohibiting drivers and teams from “making or showing any political, religious and personal expressions or comments contrary to the… General breaches the principle of neutrality”, unless previously authorized in writing by the FIA.
After criticism from drivers, the FIA then clarified that it would allow drivers “to express their views on political, religious or personal matters before, during and after ‘the race’ in their own space and outside the framework of international competition . ”
In addition to repelling human rights groups, these regulations had also provoked a strong reaction from former world champion Lewis Hamilton.
“Nothing will stop me from speaking about the things that are close to my heart. Sport has a responsibility to express itself,” Hamilton told journalists at the launch of the Mercedes car before the start of the current season.
As the only black F1 driver, Hamilton has spoken openly about social causes. He wore a t-shirt calling for justice for Breonna Taylor at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix and has ridden in a helmet with a rainbow in the Middle East to show his solidarity with LGBTQIA people in Qatar, where homosexuality is a crime .