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Max Verstappen says FIA’s ‘political speech ban’ in not necessary because “you are basically making sure that people are not allowed to speak anymore”.
The FIA recently announced they will not allow drivers to give ‘political or personal statements’ at events sanctioned by the governing organization.
This provoked many, mostly negative, reactions from observers, some of whom have accused the FIA of trying to ‘gag’ drivers.
Lewis Hamilton is one of the drivers who has been especially vocal about issues that he is concerned about, like human rights, racism and diversity, so many observers are saying the new rule seems to be targeting him directly.
Several F1 personalities, including former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko, have already expressed their dislike of the decision, and now Max Verstappen joins those who are opposed to the ban.
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“I think personally everyone’s different,” the Dutch driver told Sky Sports F1.
“Some people are more outspoken than others, I’m not normally that outspoken of that because, first of all, it’s tough as a racing driver to be fully committed as well in terms of going into everything and making sure you know all the facts right.
“But I don’t think that it is necessary because in a way you are basically making sure that people are not allowed to speak anymore, which I think we should be allowed.
“And of course like I said before, some people will speak more, some not, but it was probably a bit unnecessary, yeah,” Verstappen concluded.
