Sergio Perez agrees with Valtteri Bottas as racers "uncomfortable" over FIA rule

03 February 2023 , 20:51

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Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are against the idea of a protest ban (Image: Getty Images)

Sergio Perez said Formula 1 drivers are "not comfortable" with the new rule imposed by the FIA banning them from making unsanctioned protests and political points.

The sport's governing body has changed the wording of the regulations meaning anyone who wants to make such a point on a race weekend must seek prior approval. But the move has been widely criticised as an attempt to curb the drivers' freedom of speech and right to protest.

The FIA has also been accused of directly targeting Lewis Hamilton, who has regularly used his platform to highlight social injustices such as racism and homophobia. Perez says it is not a popular move among drivers and believes it may prove difficult to police.

"It's something we haven't discussed with the GPDA [Grand Prix Drivers' Association], but it's something we don't feel comfortable with," the Mexican told reporters including Mirror Sport. "We want to be ourselves and we want to express ourselves in any way that we want.

"We all have different views and beliefs in terms of religion... I get the political side, but we all should be free to express ourselves the way we want. I believe, in the sport, it's important. I struggle to think that they will be able to control what we can and cannot say. That, to me, is not correct. But we will discuss it."

Sebastian Vettel warns of looming F1 ban and is "very worried about the future"

Perez's dislike of the move echoes the feelings of Valtteri Bottas, who last weekend became one of the first to publicly give his view on the subject. "Personally, I don't like politics. I like doing what I love, which is racing, but at the same time politics is part of today's society," he said.

The FIA's move is not popular (PA)

"I think Formula 1 has done a good job in drawing attention to some of these kinds of issues and many drivers have raised their voices, including Sebastian [Vettel]. I don't understand why they want to control us. I think we should have the right to talk about what we want. That's how I see it, but we'll see what happens."

Meanwhile, Christian Horner feels a more measured approach from the FIA would be more appropriate. He said: "There's a couple of ways of looking at it. Sport should never be used as a political tool and I think sport, in many ways, to entertain but also have an element of escapism.

"But we certainly, at Red Bull, have never constrained our drivers or their freedom of speech. They have the ability to speak their minds because they do have a voice. I think it's a matter of finding a balance.

"In the world we live in today everybody has a voice and that shouldn't be supressed, but of course it does have to be done responsibly. We don't want to have a load of robots without opinion going racing. There just has to be a sensible balance."

Daniel Moxon