Lewis Hamilton is one of the most positively influential athletes in the world, as the seven-time world champion often goes above and beyond to campaign for what he believes is right.
The Brit uses his huge social media following for good, often sharing or posting about issues in the world, spreading awareness about these issues and what can be done about them.
Hamilton spearheaded the ‘Black Lives Matter’ campaign in Formula 1, speaking individually with every driver to explain the importance of taking the knee prior to the start of a Grand Prix.
The 38-year-old also wore a t-shirt calling for the arrest of the police officers who killed Breoanna Taylor at the Tuscan Grand Prix, using the massive exposure of the podium celebrations to make a stand against the injustice.
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FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has now banned the Brit from making such gestures without getting approval from the FIA, claiming that the drivers should stick to driving rather than using F1 to convey their political views.
A change in regulations means that political, religious or personal gestures made without prior approval will now be punished, a rule change than fans have called unnecessary.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was asked how Hamilton has reacted to this change, but the Austrian has revealed that his driver has been staying away from F1 over the winter and will address the issue after the off-season.
“We haven’t talked about the political situation because he’s in his off-season and I think it’s important to shield yourself from F1,” he said via Crash.net.
“This is what I’m very much doing, helping to shield.
“Once he’s back, these things will certainly be discussed with a positive mindset.
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“I have no doubt that Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the FIA mean well to achieve the right things, it’s just about aligning that with the drivers that have been more outspoken in the past.”
Hamilton has spent the most recent part of the winter break in Antarctica, celebrating his birthday and training for the return of Formula 1 in a couple of months’ time.
Alongside this political drama, Hamilton will also have to sort out his contract situation when he returns to Europe, having failed to extend his contract so far despite promising to do so over the break.