In the round-up: McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has backed the FIA’s decision to bar drivers from expressing political views without its permission.
In brief
Drivers ‘free to do what they want Monday to Friday’ – Brown
As RaceFans revealed last week, the FIA banned drivers from “the general making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments notably in violation of the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA under its Statutes” without prior permission in an update to the International Sporting Code for 2023.
Brown defended the FIA’s move. F1 should not be ‘turned into a political sport’, he told ESPN.
“I think it is within Formula 1 and the FIA’s right to say here’s the code of conduct we expect for you to follow during a grand prix weekend,” he explained. “You’re free to do whatever you want to do Monday through to Friday, so to speak, but obviously it’s at a grand prix weekend the drivers have the most cameras on them.”
Russell talks great expectations at Christmas
George Russell admitted he was ‘intrigued’ to see how Mercedes responded to their slump in form at the beginning of the 2022 F1 season.
He scored the team’s only win of the season in the penultimate race of the year. “It’s difficult when you join a team like Mercedes, you’re expecting victories,” he told the BBC. “I felt ready to fight for race wins and championships this year, but you’ve just got to manage your expectations. You’ve got to change those sights, slightly.
“It’s been really intriguing for me this year seeing how the team deal with this situation, and how much I have learned.”
Ferrari junior makes history with next career step
Maya Weug will become the first woman to be backed by Ferrari in an international single-seater series next year when she steps up to Formula Regional Europe with KIC Motorsport.
The Belgian-Spaniard was the first ever winner of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commissions’s Girls on Track Rising Stars programme, which earned her a place in the Ferrari Driver Academy and a step up from karting into Formula 4.
Across 53 races in two F4 series, Weug has a best finish of sixth since her debut in 2021.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
F1 teams told they must work to improve governance and transparency (The Guardian)
‘F1 teams must do more to improve their governance and transparency if they are to embrace a sustainable future, according to new research. The report by the Standard Ethics group has concluded that F1 teams need to make clear their position and goals on environmental, social and governance issues, with only three of the 10 on the grid currently having a publicly stated code of ethics.’
Stewart demands F1 bosses make change after Hamilton comments (Express)
‘The three-time world champion said the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers Associatio) should have more influence over decisions surrounding the sport.’
No models allowed: The 10 most stylish celebrities of 2022 (The Age)
‘Stars and their stylists emerged from the lockdown confusion of 2021 with a few missteps before finding their red carpet footing in 2022, but 10 people stood out among the fashion roadkill, including Lewis Hamilton.’
Ricciardo says: ‘I need time off to get the hunger back! (Auto Action)
‘Also, looking back at 2020, I feel that was one of my best seasons in Formula One, from a self-evaluation, so I did have, let’s say, success post-Red Bull. Where Red Bull is today is a phenomenal place, but my 2018 season with them was a disaster.’
The top karting stars of 2022 (Formula Scout)
‘Karting is the training ground of most drivers before single-seaters, and it’s always useful to check what’s happening in the major championships to see which future talents may eventually burst onto the scene’
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Lazzar!