Have you heard the saying, choose carefully the company you keep? Mainly said with a negative connotation sometimes the company one keeps can have a positive impact. Teammate of Lewis Hamilton for five years, Valtteri Bottas is showcasing the positive side. Bottas shared his thoughts on the FIA’s free speech ban, again!
However, this isn’t the first time the Finnish driver spoke up against this act of micromanagement from the FIA. The ruling which prohibits drivers from making “general statements and the display of political, religious and personal statements or comments” unless approved, has become quite a controversy. Probably why, Bottas felt the need to discuss this matter again with Sky Sports, as quoted by PlanetF1, on this occasion.
“I think everybody should be allowed to say what they want and support things that they want or have passion [for],” Bottas said. “Because I think people in this world should be free to say what they want and do what they want so I don’t see the need for that kind of thing to be in the rulebook.”
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After sharing his thoughts on the free speech aspect, he pointed out how the drivers are using this platform. “I think everything that we’ve been saying is normally we want to make things good, [to make] the world a better place, stuff like that,” said the Alfa Romeo man.
“That’s my view, I don’t think it [the rule] is necessary but this is Formula 1,” he concluded.
Read More: FIA Tightens the Leash on “Misconduct”
This is what Bottas had to say about the ban. However, what about the man who might have this kind of positive influence on him?
Valtteri Bottas speaks up against the free speech ban before Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton might have had a positive influence on millions of people with his outspoken nature including his former teammate. However, the Brit is yet to share his thoughts on the FIA’s ban, which the world thinks is targeting him.
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Even if the Mercedes man hasn’t there are plenty of people who are speaking up against this ruling on his behalf. This included a member of the British parliament. As reported by SoyMotor, Lord Scriven said, “It seems to me that it has Sir Lewis Hamilton, the pilot most concerned about these issues, in its sights.”
One F1 commentator even believes Hamilton will pay a million dollars in fines than comply with the rule.
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Whether it comes to that or not, we won’t know until the season starts. However, it will be interesting to hear what Hamilton has to say about it, if at all he does.