Formula 1 drivers will now need written consent to make a “political, religious and personal statement or comment” following a specific rule change by the FIA.

World motorsport’s governing body has updated its International Sporting Code, which sets the guidelines that all its championships including F1 must follow, ahead of 2023.

The FIA has opted to add an item to the article that governs “breach of rules” so that the ISC now outlaws “the general making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments notably in violation of the general principle of neutrality promoted by the FIA under its Statutes”.

Such statements or comments will only be permitted if the competitor has previously had it “approved in writing” by the FIA or by the relevant national authority.