Formula One’s Ruling Body Just Took The Hardest Stance On Political Statements Of Any Pro Sports League Yet

Sebastian Vettel Formula One driver rainbow shirt

Getty Image / Dan Istitene


Formula One’s ruling body, FIA, just announced updates to their International Sporting Code for next season that are certain to incense top drivers like Lewis Hamilton who value being able to express themselves.

Taking the strictest stance of any professional sports organization on earth, Formula 1‘s governing body FIA announced drivers will now need to get written permission from the sport’s governing body to make any “political statements”.

The exact update to FIA’s International Sporting Code for Formula One reads:

12.2.1.n The general making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments notably in violation of the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA under its Statutes, unless previously approved in writing by the FIA for International Competitions, or by the relevant ASN for National Competitions within their jurisdiction.

According to the Guardian, the rules which previously forbade political statements on clothing now also extend to ‘statements or comments’, effectively muzzling the F1 driver community from speaking out on political issues.

This will, almost certainly, cause immediate blowback from Formula One drivers like Lewis Hamilton. The 7-time Formula One champion has been an advocate of the Black Lives Matter movement, wearing a shirt in support. Hamilton also previously wore a shirt that said “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor.”

This will impact every Formula One driver, not just Lewis Hamilton. But I mention him specifically because he is known to push back against Formula 1 rules.

When Formula One threatened to enforce their jewelry ban during F1 Miami, Lewis Hamilton responded by threatening to sit out of the new American Grand Prix.

After learning about the jewelry ban, Lewis Hamilton showed up to his next press conference wearing 3 watches, 8 rings, 4 necklaces, and 2 earrings.

4-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel famously wore a rainbow shirt with the words ‘Same Love’ across the front in support of LBGTQ+ rights. Vettel retired at the end of the 2022 Formula One season.

In the NFL, athletes need permission from the league to wear special cleats during games but they can express themselves in warmups and however they want on social media. Personal expression also rings true on social media for the other major leagues (NBA, NHL, MLB).

The Formula One ban on political statements will lead to semantic arguments

This update to FIA’s Formula One International Sporting Code is pretty cut and dry. Drivers are now prohibited from wearing political statements on their clothes or speaking out on political issues.

What is not so cut and dry is what constitutes a political issue in the eyes of Formula One and the F1 drivers. Where many might see something as basic human rights a ruling body in sports might deem it as a hot button political issue to be avoided in countries where F1 operates.

And there is, of course, no indication that Formula One’s ruling body will deny drivers from expressing themselves politically. The assumption is this provision was added to block political statements but it could be the case where F1 approves these statements after written request. Only time will tell.