F1 has power to change political attitudes amidst Saudi Arabia criticism

Formula 1 has the power to help change the attitude of host countries with its events, according to CEO Stefano Domenicali.

The sport drew recent criticism when Saudi Arabia was confirmed on this year's 23-race calendar despite the country's human rights record.

Domenicali, though, believes F1 can be a vehicle for change, ensuring all countries that host races in the championship take on board the sport's values.

“The points that were raised, mainly last year, in regards to certain races, I would say we need to have the goal that our sport has the role of bringing the people and cultures together with this positive attitude," said Domenicali.

"We need to ensure that everyone has the perception and political attitude of respect for human rights and values.

"For sure, we believe that our plans can help, as they did in the past, a country to help embrace this positivity and can be seen to be doing that in the right way."

Saudi Arabia is not the first country visited by the sport to have received a downbeat response upon its announcement but it is clear it will not stop a race from happening.

Domenicali insisted, however, the sport would refrain from becoming involved with any political dealings and has ensured the plug would be pulled should the standards required by the sport fail to be met.

"We need to make sure that our platform, as motorsport cannot be political but can be seen as a factor for them, allows everyone to see that they are really having this new venue at the centre of a new political agenda," he added.

"That is the approach that we need to have. We need to monitor that because it is not just a matter of relationships, it is what is required with the values at the centre of our business.”

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