Lewis Hamilton has defined Formula 1 in this generation of the sport. Even if you don’t discount 2022, and the seemingly dismal year that’s about to come his way, he’s arguably been the greatest F1 driver to ever grace the paddock. Naturally, he has a massive pull amongst the insiders and the fans in general. Over the years, the 7x champion has used this platform he’s been blessed with to propagate a message of inclusivity, of peace. But in front of the FIA, and the powers to be within the sport, even the might of the great Lewis Hamilton sometimes comes up short.

At the start of the year, the FIA amended the International Sporting Code to reflect that no F1 driver could ever make any religious, political, or personal statement without the express permission of the FIA. Irrespective, the  38-year-old has now come out with a strong statement of intent sure to send chills down the spines of anyone who tries to gag his right to free speech.

In a recent interview, PlanetF1.com quoted him as saying, “Of course, when you read that in the news, that 100 per cent tells me that we’re going in the wrong direction. “It is counter to what I’ve been trying to do with my team, for example, what I’ve been trying to do in conversations with stakeholders within our sport.” Admittedly, it isn’t going to be an easy fight.

“But I expect pushback, there are still individuals that don’t either understand or believe the importance of having an inclusive environment, and I think my job and our job is to continue to highlight the positives of what that can have, and the importance of it.”

Read More: With FIA’s Latest Agenda to Silence Drivers, Lewis Hamilton’s 4-Worded Threat Deserve a Quick Revisit

The FIA seems to keep coming down hard on the Brit. But within the paddock, he has one ally who has the power to turn things around for Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton banks on F1 insider to take his fight to the FIA

Even for a driver with the stature of Lewis Hamilton, taking the fight to the authorities is sometimes a herculean task. Hamilton, he should thank his lucky stars as a man with a very powerful office comes to his aid on this matter.

Hamilton revealed to PlanetF1.com, “Stefano [Domenicali, F1 president] is I think a great leader and is very family orientated, very much understanding, he’s already come out and kind of gone against what has been said, so we’ll continue to work together to the right direction.”

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Can Lewis Hamilton turn this whole thing around? If so, can he still be in shape to fight for that elusive 8th title down the line?