The world of Formula 1 is a sport that often sees the political factor linked with the on-track racing. An internal dynamic that has nothing to do with what happens in the world. In recent years, thanks also to a clearly increased visibility, the management of F1 and the key people involved in the sport have however undertaken a different way of operating. In fact, there have been many drivers who have become the spokesmen for messages outside the racing world. A situation that has not always been met with the approval of the top management.
The FIA has often took action regarding the messages that the teams and drivers, until recently, displayed above all with particular shirts. An action which was which was then banned, at least in the official moments of the entire race weekend. A sort of censorship that has considerably expanded.
The FIA has in fact banned, through a recent update of the Sporting Code, any form of message, if not approved, not inherent to Formula 1. A decision that, once again, leaves the sense of inconsistency on a sport increasingly governed by other needs that lead back to money. And where to get it from.
Over the years, Formula 1 has acquired more and more media notoriety; a road that has made teams and drivers understand the importance that global visibility can have. The last few seasons in particular have shown not only drivers increasingly active on social media, but also men who are sensitive to what happens outside the corners of the sport. Lewis Hamilton has thus become a spokesperson and was then echoed by Sebastian Vettel who, over time, was also joined by other key figures of the sport.
A common goal that prompted the drivers to bring the outside world to the track as well, that is to raise awareness. Gestures, such as kneeling, and particular T-shirts have thus made their way onto the track. Strong messages, those underlined by the drivers, with the aim of drawing attention to those realities that are often hidden. However, the new political direction undertaken by the drivers did not find agreement with the FIA. First came the T-shirt ban; now an article of the Sporting Code stating that no political, personal or religious messages are allowed.
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An F1 that has chosen to separate itself from the dynamics of the world. Or at least from the more uncomfortable ones, which perhaps do not return the image that the Federation has prefigured in its mind. A sort of censorship not only of the words, but also of the emotions that such situations arouse. On the other hand, F1 drivers are first of all human beings and as such endowed with their own sensitivity. A reality that does not seem to exist for the FIA. A driver must only be a driver.
The world of sport, in general, has always decided to keep itself detached from the political world. Being neutral is in fact a characteristic that unites the Federations of the many sports existing in the world. However, the choices made have not always been completely impartial. Indeed, the new ban imposed by the FIA seems to hide something else. For some time the world of F1 has been carrying around social messages, the fight against cyberbullying, rather than battles and initiatives to allow everyone to have the same opportunities. All commendable actions which, with the latest decision, are actually a facade.
Banning certain messages to drivers doesn’t just sound like outright censorship. It is a defeat that hides what is now known to be the true reality of the sport. The world of F1 has often shown itself to be inconsistent, and not just in the decisions that are made on the track. On the one hand we have in fact been flooded with social hashtags, such as #WeRaceAsOne, while on the other the sport has embraced countries where people who support the human rights can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
The reason, unfortunately, no longer appears so hidden as to always seem the same. In fact, it is not people who are in charge and it is not even sport, but money. The income that arrives in huge quantities from those countries that the drivers have often tried to question. Those particular messages, however, have never been too welcome by those who think they can manage F1 completely. An image that the FIA has decided they don’t want to see painted.
The drivers have thus been forced, once again, to be only drivers. Robots born with the sole purpose of getting into single-seaters and battling it out on the track. Yet, given the enormous popularity achieved by the sport, making the world aware of certain topics should instead be an obligation, an honor, a real battle to carry on. Especially when it comes to sports, one of the platforms and tools that should hardly fail in such a task.
Instead, the Federation chose to do so; it has decided to censor human thoughts, to erase the path of sensitivity. An inconsistency that does not make the FIA different from all those ideals that it itself has tried to condemn over the years.
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