Earlier this month, all the drivers, through the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), expressed mounting frustrations with the FIA and its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The GPDA released an open letter criticising the FIA for issues ranging from inconsistent penalties to financial transparency. This bold statement marks the first of its kind from the GPDA in seven years.
At the forefront of this movement is George Russell, the Mercedes driver and GPDA director. Speaking during the FIA press conference ahead of the Las Vegas GP, Russell confirmed that there has been no response from the FIA regarding the letter.
When asked if there was any response from the FIA’s side, he said, “No, not at the moment, which I’m a little bit surprised about, to be fair. But maybe there’ll be something to come. Who knows?”
The open letter addressed several contentious issues, including the heavy-handed approach to driver conduct and the lack of transparency about the allocation of monetary fines. According to Russell, these unresolved matters are undermining trust between drivers and the governing body.
“When we were hearing from the FIA a couple of years ago during the presidential elections, they were talking about transparency, talking about where the money is going to be reinvested into grassroots racing,” Russell said. “We just want the transparency and understanding of what was promised from the beginning.”
Russell claims that all the drivers are “fed up”
The way the FIA has managed internal feedback has come under fire from drivers. Historically, attempts to address concerns privately have reportedly led to little change, forcing the GPDA to go public. Russell, speaking about this change in approach said:
“I think we’ve probably learned from the past that whenever we have spoken up, let’s say internally, it hasn’t gone anywhere. As drivers, we only want the best for the sport. It’s been a couple of years now that not much has changed when we have sort of given some views forward.”
The frustrations run deep, with Russell admitting that many drivers feel “bit fed up with the whole situation” with the lack of progress on key issues. He emphasized the need for collaboration and mutual respect, saying, “Ultimately, we just want to work with the FIA to make the best for the sport that we all love.”
The GPDA’s decision to use social media to highlight its concerns reflects a modern approach to transparency. The Briton explained that involving fans, who are a significant part of the sport, aligns with the goal of fostering openness and inclusivity, making a social media platform a logical choice for such communication.
