Antigone Sarlas
Human rights organisations have accused Formula One of having a "double standard" in deciding which cities will host Grand Prix events. To date, Formula One have taken a seemingly ad hoc approach, with disregard for the human rights abuses occurring in Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, but cancelling the Russian Grand Prix due to the invasion of Ukraine.
What is sportswashing?
Amnesty International coined the term "sportswashing" when referring to an authoritarian state's attempts to use sport to distract and redirect public attention away from human rights abuses and unethical conduct. The aim is to safeguard their reputation and rehabilitate their public image and effectively "wash" away negative publicity through the popularity of sports. Recent examples include Saudi Arabia’s takeover of Premier League team Newcastle United and the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup in Qatar. Indeed, this practice can also extend to commercial businesses and corporate sponsors.
Formula One's double standards
The Formula One Group, as a group of companies responsible for the exercise of Formula One's commercial rights and promotion of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Formula One World Championship, have a corporate responsibility to respect the human rights set out in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).
In an attempt to uphold these rights, and in line with their Statement of Commitment to Respect for Human Rights, Formula One confirmed in March 2022 they had terminated their $67 million-a-year contract with the Russian Grand Prix promoters, resulting in the cancellation of the 17th scheduled race of the 2022 season. This decision followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which involved serious war violations against civilians in occupied areas of Ukraine. Formula One also stated they have no plans to hold the Russian Grand Prix again in the future.
However, despite this decision, there remains a double standard that exists with Formula One continuing to hold events in certain countries. In particular, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain enjoy the renewal of their Formula One contracts, notwithstanding the egregious human rights abuses these countries have committed. For example, the Saudi-led eight-year military campaign against Yemen resulted in international human rights and international humanitarian law violations, including indiscriminate attacks against children and civilians, unlawful killings, torture, imprisonment, and the destruction of civilian objects and infrastructure. In Bahrain, their violent campaign of targeting children, persecuting and torturing political dissidents, and dramatically increasing the use of the death penalty still continues. There is also no freedom of expression in these countries, with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia ranking at 167 and 166 respectively out of 180 countries on the 2022 World Press Freedom Index.
As a result, 27 non-governmental organisations accused the FIA and Formula One of actively displaying a strong double standard and promoting sportswashing. The Bahraini and Saudi-Arabian governments are using the positive publicity and glamour surrounding the Grands Prix to 'sportswash' their human rights abuses. As Amnesty International UK's CEO, Sacha Deshmukh said: "it's no secret that rich countries in the Middle East see top-level sports as a means to rebrand and sportswash their images..."
Response from Formula One drivers
Mercedes superstar driver Lewis Hamilton has received numerous letters from Bahraini prisoners praising him for taking action by calling on Formula One to take responsibility for the human rights violations that occur in the countries where Grands Prix are held. Ahead of last year's race in Bahrain, Hamilton said: "I do not think we should be going to these countries and just ignoring what is happening… I think the weight of change needs to be put on the governments and those in power. That's why we've got to continue to utilise the platforms we have."
One Bahraini prisoner, Ali Alhajee, wrote to Hamilton saying: "Your genuine concern about these cases has changed the way prisoners think of this sport…To us, you are our champ, not only the best in driving but also a human being who cares about the suffering of others.” His car number 44 is now being adopted by inspired inmates who draw 'Sir 44' or 'Lewis 44' on their clothes.
Formula One is a sport that is the ultimate display of glamour and luxury. A Grand Prix held in a specific location will always put that city on the map, acting as an endorsement that legitimises that country as part of an elite global circuit. Formula One needs to use its power more judiciously and truly live up its own commitments to respect human rights.
Antigone Sarlas was a student intern with the Australian Human Rights Institute in Term 3, 2022.
