F1 drivers share their views on discussions around nations with negative headlines using sport as washing tool and now also for environmental purposes.
Ever since F1 has taken the step to countries who make headlines on the negative side, questions have been raised not just to the drivers but also team bosses about racing there. The humanitarian side pops up due to the human rights discrepancy in the nations.
While drivers and team bosses do their best to play it down despite the criticisms, the allegations of sportswashing continues on. To add to it, there is greenwashing too due to increasing environmental-friendly step and the Net Zero aims.
As such, every nation has some kind of trouble ongoing but it is a situation of more vs less. And the Gulf countries are more on the target list. At present, F1 has races in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Qatar, which are on the questionable list.
Here’s F1 drivers sharing their views on the criticism –
Charles Leclerc: “I think as a sport, and we’ve always said that, I think we need to bring the values of the sport in those countries in order to open the minds of people. Having said that, obviously we are in a very tricky moment for our sport. And I think, yes, we should focus on sharing the good values and there’s a lot of work still for us to do on that, as we are seeing at the moment. But I will stay on the line that I believe that we are 20 drivers showing good values, the respect, and we need to keep going to those countries in order to hopefully open minds and for them to have a better future and also to inspire young people in order to follow their dream. And I still believe that this is a good thing anyway.”
Max Verstappen: “I think with sport in general, I think there are a lot of things that you can achieve everywhere in the world. Of course, being competitive and performing here and showing to a new young crowd what we’re doing. Of course, we are not into politics. That’s a whole different story. And I think also it’s very important that sport is sport, politics are politics. Sometimes people like to be in the middle of it. I prefer to just focus on sport. Otherwise, I would have been a politician. But that’s not my expertise and definitely not where I want to end up as well. And at the end of the day, every single country has their own flaws, but also positive sides.
“And we are not going to change the world at the end of the day as a sport, but we try to share positive values. And then, of course, it’s also up to the country to make positive changes. I do think that since we have been here already there have been some really nice positive changes and you have to respect that and sometimes you know it takes a bit longer in some countries but I think it’s very positive and yeah it’s great to see and also great to meet a new culture as well I think for everyone you know to get educated on that as well, because everyone is a little bit different around the world wherever you go, and you have to respect that as well. But then, of course, also, wherever you’re from, your country, there are always things that can be done better, right? So it’s a work in progress in general.”
Sergio Perez: “I think Formula 1 itself, it’s a great platform that gives an opportunity to new countries to expose yourself and you know that the whole world is watching you once you are in Formula One. So I think that’s really, really good. It’s a very nice opportunity for all these new countries that are coming into the sport. and I think as a product we are very unique. I think you have 20 drivers, different nationalities, great sportsmen with great values and it’s something that I think just helps all those countries to be able to show themselves and try to keep improving and keep evolving, as the world is, I think. As always, every country can be better, but it’s always important to be able to give back to the people.
“I think it’s always nice to go to places where the sport is the priority for the people. We’ve seen over the years that in this area it keeps growing and we have to remember that at the end of the day Formula 1 is a worldwide sport that we might race in Saudi but a lot of people around the world are watching us. So I think it’s good that it’s expanding from Europe because I feel like in the past, Formula 1 was very centralised in Europe, not just with drivers, but the people working in the paddock. And now it’s nice that you see a lot more different nationalities within Formula 1, not just in the drivers’ side. I would like to see more on the drivers’ side as well. But just the people around, yeah, just having a lot more people working in Formula 1 from other countries is nice to see.”
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