Stefano Domenicali believes that countries have “no excuse” not to improve their human rights record when they are part of Formula 1.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia, both under human rights scrutiny, each host a grand prize for the first time in 2021 and have been given long-term contracts to stay on the schedule.
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel are the most outspoken drivers on these matters, with the German answering ‘no’ when asked if he was looking forward to the next race in Saudi Arabia – an answer that was clearly not from a sporting point of view, although he was reluctant to give details on this occasion.
It has been claimed that F1 contributes to the concept of ‘sports washing’ in which the organization of large-scale events is used to try to improve a country’s global image and deflect criticism from outside. .
F1 CEO Domenicali recently said “shutting down” countries could actually slow the pace of cultural change, and he believes putting them in the spotlight means the expected progress is impossible to avoid.
“There is no reason to hide and as soon as these countries choose to be in the Formula 1 spotlight, there is no excuse. They have taken the path of change,” said Domenicali at Sky F1.
“As always in life, you can’t pretend that millennial cultural habits can be changed from day to night. It would be illogical and not rational.
“But I think through Formula 1, through sport, they will have the intensity to make sure that progress happens faster, in a faster way, than it would normally take for make those changes, which is why we are here fearlessly and to make sure things are done right.
“They are making an impressive and factual engagement with us and I would say that a few years down the road someone will recognize the important role Formula 1 has given to this important change in our society.”
Domenicali added that drivers are free to express themselves and that Formula 1’s “We Race As One” initiative is a suitable “platform” to represent the push for equality in all areas of life. .
“We have a platform where the riders can say what they think is right,” said the 56-year-old Italian.
“There’s nothing new we’re adding because it’s a very current message – through our ‘We Race As One’ platform we talk about diversity, sustainability, inclusiveness and that’s why I would say it’s really current with this approach, but always with respect to everyone. “
