Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motor racing, granted. However, in today’s day and age, the sport of Formula 1 is also a platform. In the recent past, we’ve beloved legends such as Sebastian Vettel use it to showcase their support to various burning issues.

That being said, the pioneer of using F1’s global reach as a tool for the furtherance of human rights is undisputedly, Lewis Hamilton.

As things stand, though, the FIA may have once again caught the ire of the 7x Champion. And this time, the repercussions he’s threatened may lead to the sport paying the ultimate price.

Lewis Hamilton threatens the gravest of consequences to the FIA

Before 2022 came to a conclusion, the sport’s apex governing body, the FIA amended the International Sporting Code.

As things stand, all drivers will be in contravention of the rules if they make any political, religious or personal statements without the prior written permission of the FIA’s president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

While blasting the FIA for this, Hamilton told the New York Times, “If I can’t have conversations with people, if I can’t talk about these very sensitive issues, they won’t have the impact that they should have. So the organizations that can change it won’t put their energy into improving that.” [translated via Google Translate] He ended his rant with an alarming threat.

“If I can’t defend human rights and I can’t continue what I’ve been doing these years, I’d rather not race anymore.”

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This isn’t the first time that Lewis Hamilton and the FIA have been at loggerheads. That being said, this time around the FIA purports to have a more ‘legal’ backing than before.

FIA justifies regulation amendment directed to stop Lewis Hamilton

On the face of it, the FIA’s newest amendment seems very restrictive and completely regressive. However, the FIA has come out with a statement to explain and appease fans who’ve taken a firm stand with the 7x Champion.

A spokesperson of the FIA said, “The ISC has been updated in alignment with the political neutrality of sport as a universal fundamental ethical principle of the Olympic Movement, enshrined in the IOC Code of Ethics, together with the principle of the universality set out in Article 1.2”

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Do you agree with the FIA? And does Formula 1 really run the risk of losing Hamilton to the FIA’s whims?