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McLaren’s Lando Norris says that Formula 1’s governing body should abandon its plans for an apparent ban on free speech for drivers.<\/span><\/p>\n A number of drivers have expressed concern about a new rule that prohibits “personal, religious and political statements” without written consent.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Norris, 23, said: “I feel there has been quite a bit of pressure and enough said to make a little bit of a U-turn.<\/span><\/p>\n “We should be able to say what we want and what we believe in.”<\/span><\/p>\n The FIA has said that it will issue guidelines clarifying the meaning of its new rule in the coming days.<\/span><\/p>\n But British driver Norris said: “The penalty [for speaking out] is not clear, but we are not in a school. We should not have to ask about everything and say, ‘Can we do this, can we do that?’<\/span><\/p>\n “We are grown up enough to try and make smart decisions. Maybe sometimes people make silly decisions but that happens in life. I hope and believe that enough drivers have said things now to push back a little bit.”<\/span><\/p>\n Norris emphasised that F1 president Stefano Domenicali, head of the company that owns the sport’s commercial rights, has said <\/span>they would “never gag drivers”.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Norris said: “F1 has made things clear what they think is acceptable and what we should be able to do as drivers and that is what I stand by. We should be able to say what we want and what we believe in.<\/span><\/p>\n “If things start to get blocked off and we can’t even talk or say anything, then no-one is going to want to do media because you can’t say anything.<\/span><\/p>\n “We need it. We are only trying to help people in the world and give advice and there is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to do that.”<\/span><\/p>\n FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem last week announced that he would take a step back from direct involvement in F1.<\/span><\/p>\n His decision was billed as pre-planned, but it came in the wake of a difficult winter in which Ben Sulayem has come under fire <\/span>for his approach to a number of topics.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n McLaren Racing chief executive officer Zak Brown said he welcomed Ben Sulayem’s decision.<\/span><\/p>\n