McLaren’s Lando Norris prepared to defy FIA ban on political statements

Lando Norris has said he would be prepared to defy the FIA’s ban on drivers making political statements at Formula One races. The McLaren driver added that the opposition among drivers was so strong he expected the FIA to be forced into a U-turn on their position.

Norris was speaking at the launch of the team’s new car, the MCL60, at their Woking headquarters, the car named to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Bruce McLaren forming the team in 1963. The 23-year-old is now entering his fifth year in F1 and has been prominent in the past in speaking out on mental health issues, as well as equality and diversity.

In December 2022 the FIA announced it was adjusting the regulations, banning drivers from making “political, religious or personal” statements or comments without permission, a decision which Norris believed was fundamentally wrong and one which he would be potentially willing to deliberately violate.

“I don’t know what the penalty is, if it’s a fine I am probably happy to break it,” he said. “If it’s a bit more then maybe not but it depends. At certain times there are things you are going to want to say which maybe they won’t allow but I think that will only be a positive thing for whatever that circumstance is.”

Last week the CEO of F1 Stefano Domenicali made clear his opposition to the FIA’s stance by stating F1 did not believe in restricting drivers’ rights to speak out, saying: “F1 will never never put a gag on anyone.” Drivers such as Max Verstappen, Alex Albon, Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas have also voiced their opposition as has Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner.

Norris believed the FIA was being backed into a corner, which would force it to revise its position.

“I feel like there has been