‘Nothing will stop me from speaking’

Hamilton said Wednesday he would continue to use his global platform to advance his wide-ranging interests, including social justice and race, human rights and protecting the LBGTQ community.

The FIA ​​updated its International Sporting Code in December to require prior written authorization for drivers to make or show “political, religious and personal expressions or comments” at race weekends. The FIA ​​​​is the governing body of Formula 1.

The crackdown on freedom of expression has been condemned by most drivers, but Hamilton only chimed in on Wednesday when Mercedes unveiled its 2023 car.

Hamilton said the FIA’s action “doesn’t surprise me” but was quick to dismiss it when he found out about it in the off-season.

“Nothing will stop me from speaking out about the things I’m passionate about and the issues that exist,” Hamilton said. “I feel like sport still has a responsibility to speak out to create awareness about important issues, especially when we’re traveling to all these different places, so nothing changes.”

Asked if he was willing to be penalized by the FIA ​​for breaking the new rule, Hamilton said: “It would be foolish to say I want to take extra penalty points”, but remained staunch that he wasn’t being silenced would become.

“I’ll still speak on my side,” Hamilton said. “We still have this platform. There are many things we need to tackle.”

Most drivers have spoken out against the new rule, most recently from F1 boss Stefano Domenicali, who recently told The Guardian newspaper the series would not impose any gag. Domenicali said he expects the FIA ​​to clarify their position soon.

Hamilton is the most vocal driver in F1 and 17 years into his career remains the same change agent as when he became F1’s first black winner in 2008. The British racing driver is now 38 years old, the most successful driver in the history of the series and stands alongside Michael Schumacher with a record seven titles.

Hamilton remains the only black driver at the highest level of motorsport.

Hamilton often speaks out when driving in countries with questionable human rights records, or when an issue arises where he believes his voice can provide assistance, which would be prohibited under the new FIA rule.

Hamilton quarreled with the FIA ​​last year over how to deal with drivers who wore jewelry in the car and poked fun at the rule by arriving at a press conference with three watches, eight rings and several necklaces. Hamilton and the FIA ​​had a lengthy back-and-forth over the jewelry ban, in which he received an extension of time to have some piercings removed; The two sides finally came to an agreement.

Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell is director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, which represents F1 drivers, and shared criticism of the FIA’s attempt to restrict drivers’ speech.

“I think it’s completely unnecessary in sport and in the world we live in at the moment. Of course we are obviously looking for clarification and I have faith that it will be resolved,” Russell said Wednesday.

He added: “We will not restrict our views or our thoughts because of some stupid regulation. We are all here to have freedom of expression and to share our views.”

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