After questioning the constant political demonstrations by drivers on the Formula One grid, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem adopted a milder tone and said that his main priorities for his term of office are sustainability, diversity and inclusion
Just a not very positive repercussion of the interview given to the British site GrandPrix247 for the president of the FIA (International Automobile Federation), Mohammed Ben Sulayem, changed the speech about what he thinks about the political positioning of some drivers in Formula 1. The president - who has criticized the activism of Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris - tried to soften recent statements and said on Thursday (9), on his official Twitter account, that "diversity and inclusion are some of the main priorities of his mandate.
The controversy erupted when, when asked about what the sport should not become, Sulayem questioned the real need for political agendas within Formula One, saying that "The FIA needs to be careful not to get dragged into politics and forget our roots in motorsport. He then used the examples of Vettel's "rainbow bike," Hamilton's passion for human rights, and Norris' mental health advocacy speeches to question "whether we should impose our beliefs all the time beyond the sport." "Niki Lauda and Alain Prost only cared about driving," he argued.
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Sulayem waited 48 hours after the story broke to try to tone it down. "As a driver, I have always believed in sport as a catalyst for the progress of society. That is why promoting sustainability, diversity, and inclusion are some of the top priorities of my mandate. Likewise, I value the commitment of all drivers and champions to a better future," he wrote.
In the month in which the world celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride, the statements by the leader of the world's governing body of motorsport brought homophobia and how Formula 1 would react if it had an openly gay driver on the grid. Vettel has been the main voice in the category in defense of the community, so much so that he was chosen to be the cover of the British magazine Attitude, aimed at the LGBTQIA+ public.
On the topic, the four-time champion said that "maybe it wasn't the case in the past, but now I think a gay driver in F1 would be welcome - and rightly so. "I feel that a gay driver would help accelerate the elimination of prejudice and help push our sport in a better direction. So I think - and hope - that our sport is ready for it," he added.
Hamilton is also a staunch supporter of social agendas and minority rights. Besides constantly fighting racism, the seven-time champion also shows support for the gay community. Mercedes adopted for the month of June a special logo with rainbow colors to honor LGBTQIA+ Pride month. Hamilton celebrated the decision and even asked that it be used until the end of the year.