Home

F1

“Slap You Across the Face”: F1 Fans Beef With McLaren Boss After Recent Statements Against Drivers Go Viral

Published 12/28/2022, 2:50 AM EST

Follow Us

via Getty

Formula 1 is not just about fast cars; there are many other components as well. In order to encompass those elements, we can use the word “Chaos.” If it’s not the season, the F1 fraternity can provide you with a wide range of news that’ll be keeping you interested in the sport. And following the FIA’s new sports code, the fans have been busy listening to a variety of viewpoints, and this time it came from the man in charge of the British Racing team.

The FIA this month adopted a new rule for its sporting code (Article 12.2.1.n,) that forbids drivers from “the general making and presentation of political, religious or personal comments,” unless prior authorization is obtained. In recent years, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have been two of Formula One’s drivers who have spoken out the loudest on a variety of social concerns and the new rules might be upsetting the two greats of the sport.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

However, when questioned about the FIA crackdown by ESPN, Mclaren CEO Zak Brown responded, “It’s tricky, right? Because some of the topics are really good, some are controversial, some are polarising. I think in general we want to be a sport that is doing good. We just need to find a balance there and not have every start of a race being a new political agenda for someone. I don’t think that’s healthy as it can detract from what everyone has tuned in to, which is they want to watch a Grand Prix.”

The supporters and fans whom the FIA had already enraged with the introduction of the new sporting code haven’t well welcomed Zak Brown‘s message. Brown’s statement has only served to fuel the fire, and now Twitter is exploding with venomous remarks.

F1 fans are furious on Twitter in the wake of Zak Brown’s surprising political declaration

In response to drivers’ private remarks earlier making news, the code was modified. For someone like Lewis Hamilton, who has consistently utilised his position to advocate for social causes, the implementation of the new sporting code may be an impediment. At the Tuscan Grand Prix in 2020, Hamilton wore a T-shirt with the slogan “arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor.” His choice to wear the same t-shirt to the podium prompted the governing body to change the post-race, dress code.

Like Hamilton, German racing legend Sebastian Vettel may also bear some of the blame for the new athletic code because, in the past, he has advocated for the LGBTQ+ community and raised awareness of a number of environmental issues. The supporters have been hostile to Zak Brown’s statements supporting the FIA because they must remember all the positive actions done by these stars. Given below are some of the reactions.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest F1 stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

After the British racing team’s underwhelming season, spectators were observed making fun of the CEO this year and some of them also quoted that he has a bad vibe.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Although the new sporting code has drawn intense criticism from supporters, declarations from the community’s vociferous figures have yet to appear.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

WATCH THIS STORY: McLaren F1 Boss Uses Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo to Highlight Major Flaws With Red Bull Racing

Given that, do you believe that the motorists will adopt their position on this matter?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Aditya Srivastava

738Articles

One take at a time

Aditya Srivastava is an F1 Author at EssentiallySports. Although he has completed his undergrad in History, due to his passion for the field, he couldn't hold himself back from entering the world of Sports Journalism. Being a huge fan of Formula 1, Aditya has taken up multiple internships and freelancing gigs where he got to pen down his thoughts about the most prestigious form of motor racing in the world.
Show More>