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“Lots of rules have been written”- Old quote by Lewis Hamilton hints he will not comply to new F1 rule

Somin Bhattacharjee
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"Lots of rules have been written"- Old quote by Lewis Hamilton hints he will not comply to new F1 rule

Earlier this month, the FIA released a statement saying that they have imposed a ban on drivers making any political, religious or personal statement that isn’t non neutral. This means that drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel who wore t-shirts that displayed support to various causes, won’t be able to starting 2023.

Vettel is not in F1 anymore, but fans are sure that he will continue speaking out against various issues off the track. Hamilton meanwhile, may be forced to comply with these new rules, otherwise he may be given penalties, fines or even a potential race ban. However, if we are to go by Hamilton’s previous statements, it doesn’t seem likely he will care what the FIA does to him.

In 2020, the world was outraged and grieving over the death of Breonna Taylor’s killing. A lot of celebrities came out to protest against it including numerous famous athletes. Hamilton was one of them, as he wore a t-shirt that had “arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” written on it. Afterwards, rumors started surfacing that the FIA would penalize the Brit for wearing the t-shirt, but the latter didn’t care.

Also read: Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reveals how W13 porpoising broke their 2022 engines

Nothing will stop Lewis Hamilton from delivering messages he wants to deliver

Ahead of the 2020 Russian GP, a reporter asked Hamilton about the FIA potentially penalizing him by imposing new rules. The Mercedes ace replied by saying that the rules won’t stop him from saying what he wants to.

“I don’t know what they’re going to do this weekend,” he said. “But lots of rules have been written for me over the years. That hasn’t stopped me.”

Now that the FIA has actually imposed a rule that bans driver from making such statements, it is to be seen if Hamilton actually stands by what he says. However, as we’ve witnessed over the years, the 37-year-old has never been afraid of repercussions when it comes to speaking out against issues that plague the society.

In countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia (where the LGBTQ+ community are oppressed), he publicly displayed support by wearing a rainbow helmet during the race. Hamilton did that in spite of the FIA and organizing bodies asking him not to. Therefore, it’s safe to assume that Hamilton will definitely have his say on these new rules made up by the FIA earlier this month.

Also read: “Would have kicked Mattia Binotto out years ago”: Former Ferrari driver launches scotching attack on former team principal

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Formula 1 Editor Somin Bhattacharjee fell for the sport as well as Fernando Alonso on the same day — during the Spaniard’s thrilling victory at the German GP in 2010. Over the years, the passion magnified manyfold, and metamorphosed into a writing career in 2021. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. He has penned over 2,700 articles for TheSportsRush, presenting a diverse range — news reports, opinions, and exclusives. A true Tiffosi, Somin never gives up on a chance to defend the Ferrari boys as a fan. As a sports writer though, he remains objective to the core and relishes opportunities to follow and engage in dissecting the action during races. That’s where the real thrill lies for him. Beyond the racetrack, Somin plays different sports including soccer. He enjoys exploring other sporting events and proudly supports Spanish soccer club Real Madrid.

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