Is there really freedom of expression in sports?

With all the sponsors, advertisements, private contracts, and endless things to consider, athletes are increasingly tied up. Formula 1 is no exception and perhaps it is one of the sports where the "watch what you say" is most ingrained.

A legend of this sport like 'Emmo' Fittipaldi has wanted to speak out on this issue and in an exclusive interview with motorsport.com, he has made several interesting statements and insisted on the lack of personality and freedom of expression that affects the drivers: "I believe that communication is a big part of all this. If there is something they should be allowed, it is freedom. In the United States, everyone talks about freedom of speech. If you drive for Ferrari, for example, before the press conference they will tell you that you cannot say this or that, it's bullshit! Are we robots or do we have personality? Drivers should be able to say whatever they want. When they are asked how the race went, they just say it went well. They need personality. The system is the one that is wrong, not them. There should be more interaction between the audience and the drivers."

Fittipaldi is clear and has not wanted to miss the opportunity to compare his era with the present, "in my time, I had a 20-year commercial relationship with Philip Morris and I knew exactly what to say, but I could say whatever I wanted. It allowed me to express my personality. I had freedom of expression and that is everything. You cannot blame the drivers because they are in a very different environment than my time, but that should change. They cannot express themselves freely."

Thus, to conclude, the former Brazilian driver sent a final message in the form of a request: "Formula 1 and the PR guys should allow the drivers to say more things."