Lando Norris is the latest driver to speak out over the FIA's decision to clamp down on activism on race weekends.

The one thing that every car and livery reveal has had in common this season - other than the unwillingness to give any real insight into what we are seeing - is the drivers using the opportunity to speak out over the update to the International Sporting Code that will require them to seek permission from the FIA before making any sort of politically driven statement over race weekends.

Despite F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali insisting that drivers will not be gagged, Lando Norris used the opportunity of tonight's unveiling of the MCL60 to voice his fears.

"We're not in a school," he said. "We shouldn't have to ask about everything and say 'can we do this, can we do that?'

"I think we're grown up enough to try and make smart decisions," he added.

"Maybe sometimes people make silly decisions," he admitted, "but that happens in life. I think there are enough drivers to have said things now to push back a little bit.

"I think it's still very important that it's clear as drivers we can still voice our opinions. I don't think F1 should go in a direction with rules or the direction of limiting what we can do or say and influence us drivers because we are only wanting to do things for the best. We don't want to use it in any wrongdoing way. We are doing it because we have a lot of fans, millions of fans, millions of viewers, who we want to influence, guide and use to help, or to help them personally. We should have freedom of speech."

Like children with ride on kids cars dreaming of becoming racers, we too dream of a world where our voices are heard clearly and without restraint.

Asked, should the FIA persist with the ruling, whether he would be willing to speak out anyway, he replied: "I don't know what the penalty is. If it's a fine or something, I'm probably happy to break it, if it's a bit more, then not. It depends.

"At certain times there's things we're going to want to say, which maybe they don't allow, but I think it would only be a positive thing for whatever that circumstance is.

"I don't know 100 percent what the ruling is and how everything is going to happen, but I feel like there's been quite a lot of pressure and enough said to maybe make a little bit of a U-turn.

"F1 have made things clear with what they think is acceptable and what they think we should be able to do as drivers, and I guess that's what I stand by. I think we should be able to say what we want and what we believe in."

Of course, one would have thought that if he believed in an issue strongly enough, he would be willing to face the penalty, whatever it might be.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 16/02/2023 2:11

"@ Defiant...Thanks for the comment. Like I said before ,F1 should not be a venue for political diatribe. Why choose F1 in the first place? Because it affords the activists a platform and a captive audience. IMO that is totally wrong , it's an abuse of privilege and should not be allowed, as per the FIA decision. I very much doubt that even when James Hunt was in his prime would he be seen taking a 'knee'...that's so 'unJames'. Nevertheless opinions vary and we are all entitled to express them. As for Kimi, let me quote, 'unfortunately the gesture of going on the knee is against my mentality where you only go on the knee in front of God, and your flag, and that's about it'. Sensible words from the man of few. Hopefully this issue will be resolved and we can get back to the core element....F1 racing. "

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2. Posted by Defiant, 15/02/2023 23:03

"@kenji, Sorry buddy, I think the time and place for FREE speech is anywhere, anytime and anyhow. I'm with Hobgoblin on this one. The drivers should be true to themselves long before anyone else.

I miss the characters of F1. James Hunt was a gentleman but man he had character, I doubt you'd ever have got him to zip it any more than good manners would require. Even Kimi had character, if he had something to say (which wasn't often) he'd have said it. I firmly think we are heading in the wrong direction with all these ridiculous rules. Let them speak.

In the case of Sir SJW, the more he speaks the more likely he'll turn people off from following him. "

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3. Posted by kenji, 15/02/2023 12:28

"@Hobgoblin....You still don't quite see the issue. I am a profound supporter of free speech but there is a place and a time for discussion of these woke propositions and it's not during an F1 race weekend. By insinuating that my response is due to rejecting alternate opinions is the basis of the cancel culture. If Hamilton wants to support the 'alphabet people' then that's fine by me, but do it away from F1, There are many different venues that cater for those opinions. F1 is about motor racing and not a trojan horse, in case you'd overlooked the fact. "

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4. Posted by Hobgoblin, 15/02/2023 8:24

"@kenji - I have been following the discourse, obviously you didn't pay attention...

So the basis of your argument is that anyone can say anything they like as long as it doesn't offend you or disagree with your opinion?"

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5. Posted by kenji, 15/02/2023 1:01

"@Elsiebc...exactement, mon ami. "

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6. Posted by elsiebc, 14/02/2023 16:07

"" 'I don't know 100 percent what the ruling is and how everything is going to happen' but I'm going to speak out about it and tell my millions of fans what to think." Me thinks Lando needs to write "I will keep my mouth shut until I know about which I speak" one thousand times... and pay a fine."

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7. Posted by kenji, 14/02/2023 14:24

"@Hobgoblin....Obviously you haven't been following the discourse. The drivers are free to say what they want, when they want. Just so long as they don't try and proseletise specific socio political agendas that have zip to do with motor racing. BLM is a perfect example. Norris is forever pushing his barrow on mental health.It's boring. If he has problems then get them sorted and get on with it. That's an aside really as it's not political anyway. As for the fans, well, why would we introduce wokeness into our collective messaging? Only when we are forced into witnessing the lame attempts to self aggrandize....on an international viewing platform. Lets just go racing....."

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8. Posted by Hobgoblin, 14/02/2023 12:29

"@kenji - so you want all drivers to shut up, turn up, and drive. Nothing more. No personality or feedback.

As fans, should we be doing the same? Just shut up and watch. No comment or opinion."

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9. Posted by kenji, 14/02/2023 2:09

"Being seriously wealthy Norris shows his disdain by writing off any financial penalty. He says that 'we're not schoolkids'...so stop acting like one and the comparison disappears. All we really need is racing and no politics on the weekend."

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10. Posted by Superbird70, 13/02/2023 22:08

"Better be careful. This will go on your permanent record."

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"We're not school kids," says Norris

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