F1 to impose restrictions on political and religious displays

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The Formula One has announced new regulations regarding the displays of political or religious messages, from 2023. According to the FIA’s international sporting code, drivers will not be permitted to display any personal, religious, or political statements that affect neutrality, and can only do soon obtaining written permission from the FIA.

These restrictions have been several years in the making, with Lewis Hamilton’s act of donning a t-shirt that read “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” after winning the Tuscan Grand Prix in September 2020, prompting the FIA to announce that all drivers must remain in their racing suits during post-race events. Hamilton also wore a helmet featuring a rainbow as a sign of support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Sebastian Vettel, who recently retired, has also made statements in the past to raiseawareness, when he wore a helmet advocating for inclusion and diversity at the Turkish GP in 2020, and has also called attention to issues such as bee die-offs, and oil mining from tar sands in Canada. The FIA has also stated that it will take necessary measures to promote discrimination based on factors including race, gender, sexual orientation, and religion.