Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says the sport ‘will never put a gag on anyone’ amid free speech debate

Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali says the sport “will never put a gag on anyone” as the debate over what drivers are allowed to say rages on.

The FIA runs the legislative arm of the sport, while Formula One Group deals with commercial matters.

The news comes after the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have promoted diversity initiatives on the grid in the past.

However, Domenciali, the CEO of Formula One Group, says drivers will be allowed to continue to speak freely.

“F1 will never put a gag on anyone,” said Domenicali.

“Everyone wants to talk, so to have the platform to say what they want in the right way, the better it is. We have a huge opportunity because of the position of our sport, which is more and more global, multicultural and multi-valued.

“We are talking about 20 drivers, 10 teams and many sponsors, they have different ideas, different views. I cannot say one is right, one is wrong but it is right, if needed, to give them a platform to discuss their opinions in an open way.

“We will not change that approach as a sport. That should be the line of our sport, to give everyone the chance to speak in the right way, not with aggressive tones or to offend but with respect.”

Domenicali expected the FIA – which is fully recognised by the IOC, whose code of ethics states that sport must be politically neutral – to clarify it’s position.

“I believe the FIA will clarify what has been stated, in terms of respecting certain places where you cannot do it,” he added.

“I am sure the FIA will share the same view as F1, but they are part of an Olympic federation so there are protocols to which they have to abide.”