GPDA's attack on F1

The pilots of F1 criticized the management of the discipline by the shareholders of the Championship. The start of the season was marked by tensions linked to the late implementation of the new qualifying format which were finally abandoned after the Australian Grand Prix.

“Since our childhood, we have dreamed of the fastest racing cars on the most beautiful tracks in the world against the best drivers on the planet... F1 operates in a difficult economic environment... We feel that certain rule changes, whether on the sporting or technical side, are disturbing and do not correspond to the biggest concerns of the discipline. In certain cases, they can even jeopardize its future…”, published the GPDA in an open letter to F1 management.

“The drivers have come to the conclusion that the decision-making process in this sport is outdated and that significant progress must be made… This reflects negatively on the discipline and can compromise its development. We are calling on the shareholders and owners of F1 to restructure. Future decisions, whether short or long term, must be made with a precise plan…”

This GPDA open letter was jointly signed by Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel and Alex Wurz, the director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.