The FIA has clarified its rules with regards to what drivers can and can’t wear on the podium and in post-race interviews as it looks to prevent them from wearing unofficial message-bearing clothing in the future.
Lewis Hamilton’s decision to wear a t-shirt which read “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” at the Tuscan Grand Prix a couple of weeks ago prompted this clarification of the rules.
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The six-time World Champion wasn’t punished by the FIA and Mercedes defended their driver following the incident.
During the Russian Grand Prix race weekend, the FIA has sent a document to teams and officials, titled ‘Race Directors Note – Pre-Race Procedure’.
The document notes that “The FIA, Formula 1, teams and drivers stand united as a sport in the fight to end racism and fully support equality, inclusivity and equal opportunity for all.”
It added that the FIA supports any form of individual expression by drivers “in accordance with the fundamental principles of its statutes.”
A second FIA document which has been distributed in the Formula One paddock clarifies what drivers should wear on the podium and in post-race interviews.
“For the duration of the podium ceremony and post-race interview procedure, the drivers finishing in a race in positions 1, 2, 3 must remain attired only in their driving suits, ‘done up’ to the neck, not opened to the waist.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this includes a medical face mask or team-branded face mask.
“For the duration of the TV pen interviews and FIA post-race press conference, all drivers finishing must remain attired in their respective teams’ uniform only. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes a medical face mask or team-branded face mask.”
Earlier this week, Hamilton said he knew what the FIA was planning to do, and added that “lots of rules have been written for me over the years, and that hasn’t stopped me.”
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