Champagne not welcome in Qatar, criticism is: "We respect other people's culture"

On 21 November, Formula 1 will come to Qatar. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the organisation of sporting events in the country, with human rights not appearing to be particularly high on the list. However, according to the organisers of the race the drivers are free to express their opinion on controversial issues such as human rights.

Abdulrahman Al Mannai, president of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation, told AFP in an interview that the country is open to criticism. "We are happy to support the drivers in expressing their views on their platforms," Al Mannai began. "We don't see it as a problem in Qatar because they are free to say what they want to say."

Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton is a prominent voice for the Black Lives Matter movement. Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel also makes a strong case for social issues. In addition, several national football teams have held protests ahead of qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup.

"Qatar is open to criticism and has been working for a few years to improve things when it comes to labour issues," Mannai continued. "We have made good progress. Of course it's not a perfect system yet, but our openness and our partnership with a lot of international organizations has helped us make improvements."

As usual at sporting events in the region, there will be no champagne on the stage. "We have our own values and culture, and we respect the culture of others," Mannai continued. "We will not use champagne or alcohol during the podium but will use an alternative to celebrate the podium for the drivers."