Last Update: February 04, 2023, 09:06 IST
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and team principal Christian Horner (Reuters)
Formula One drivers need to be able to speak freely, says Sergio Pérez at Red Bull’s livery launch in New York
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez said on Friday that Formula One drivers are unhappy with a rule change preventing them from making unauthorized “political statements” at races and will discuss it as a group.
The governing FIA updated the International Sporting Code last December to require prior written permission for drivers to make or display “political, religious and personal statements or comments”.
Mexican Perez told reporters at the livery launch of his world champion team in New York that drivers needed to be able to speak freely.
“We haven’t discussed (it) with the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association), but it’s something we don’t feel comfortable with because we want to be ourselves and we’re not able to express ourselves in any way.” want to be able.” want,” he said.
“We all have different views, different beliefs in religion… I get the political side but we all should be free to express ourselves as we want.
“I’m just struggling to think that they’ll be able to control what you may or may not say. To me that’s not true. But we’ll discuss that.”
Several drivers, most notably Mercedes’ seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, have used their profile and platform to address the issues.
In Hamilton’s case, the Briton has spoken out about racial injustice and reported human rights abuses in some Formula One countries.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told reporters separately that he thinks “sport should never be used as a political tool”.
“Sports is for fun in many ways, but it also has an element of escapism,” he said.
Horner said Red Bull had always given its drivers freedom of speech but it was a question of finding a balance.
“In the world we live in today, everyone has a voice and it should not be suppressed, but of course it should be done responsibly,” he added.
“We don’t want loads of robots racing around with no opinion.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)