The relationship between Formula 1 and the FIA is currently very tense, with a number of actions by the sport’s governing body upsetting officials and drivers.
The FIA’s adamance to entertain the Andretti-Cadillac project and expand the grid has upset F1 officials and team bosses, especially considering F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has shut down the idea of adding an 11thteam multiple times.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has recently stepped away from the F1 side of things after coming under fire for a number on controversies, but it appears that the FIA’s plans for the upcoming season will not change.
Political, personal and religious gestures are now banned in Formula 1, with any driver who makes one of these gestures set to be punished, unless they have been granted permission to make the gesture.
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It has been suggested that this new rule is aiming to silence Lewis Hamilton in order to keep some of F1’s host countries happy.
The 38-year-old has previously worn a rainbow helmet at a number of races in the Middle East to protest against the illegality of homosexuality in the region, a gesture which outraged many from the region.
Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Alex Albon has all asked for more clarity on the rule, suggesting that the drivers should be able to express themselves and stand up for what is right, rather than being silenced.
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen has agreed with the thoughts of his fellow drivers, claiming that the grid will continue to speak out on important causes, no matter what the FIA do about it.
“Yeah, absolutely,” he said to Sky Sports when asked if drivers will continue to make important gestures despite the ban.
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“But of course, we’re here to race and we don’t want to get penalties imposed on us because of different things. It’s just not great.
“I would like to have the freedom. Not that I necessarily plan to do anything, but just having that freedom is an essential value.”
Lewis Hamilton is yet to address the new FIA rule despite being arguably the main target, with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suggesting that he will wait until he returns from his off-season to speak about the issue.