Jump to content

Grand Prix Drivers' Association

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grand Prix Drivers' Association
Formationformed: 11 May 1961
disbanded: (February) 1982
reformed: (13) May 1994
HeadquartersMonaco Monaco
Chairman
Austria Alexander Wurz
Directors
This article is part of a series on
Formula One
Previous and next seasons
Related articles
Lists
Records
Organisations

The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) is the trade union of Formula One drivers. Founded in 1961 and refounded in 1994, it has organised several drivers' strikes and boycotts over the years, primarily in response to unsafe circuits on the F1 calendar and other driver safety issues.

Background

[edit]

First GPDA

[edit]

The GPDA was founded in May 1961 and, following an election by members, its inaugural Chairman was Stirling Moss. After Moss retired from the sport in 1963, Jo Bonnier succeeded him.[1]

The organisation's initial aim was to obtain representation on the Commission Sportive Internationale (CSI) of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) to advocate for improved safety standards and provisions for both drivers and spectators.[1] The GPDA organised driver boycotts of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (1969)[2] and the Nürburgring (1970, post-1976).[3][4]

The organisation fractured during the FISA–FOCA war, during which drivers in teams aligned with FISA (mostly auto manufacturer teams like Ferrari) clashed with drivers in FOCA teams (mostly private racing teams like McLaren or Williams).[5] GPDA chairman Jody Scheckter, a Ferrari driver, used his GPDA role to take FISA's side in the conflict, arguing that ground effect cars (pioneered by the FOCA teams) were unsafe for drivers.[6][7] In response, several drivers for FOCA teams, including Alan Jones and Nelson Piquet, resigned from the GPDA.[8]

In addition, the GPDA organised a successful drivers' strike at the 1982 South African Grand Prix after FISA proposed new regulations that gave them wider grounds to strip drivers of their FIA Super Licenses,[5] although in that case, FOCA agreed with FISA's position.[9] The drivers defeated the regulations but were fined and sanctioned by the FIA. Following the strike, a number of drivers met to disband the GPDA and replace it with the Professional Racing Drivers Association (PRDA), which theoretically extended to all professional drivers.[10] The PRDA never matched the prominence or effectiveness of the original GPDA, and was said to have "faded away."[4]

Second GPDA

[edit]

Ahead of the 1994 season, the FIA banned electronic driver aids such as active suspension and traction control.[11][12] The speed of the change (the FIA was so eager to implement the ban that it initially suggested imposing the ban in the middle of the 1993 season[12]) was criticised by several drivers, who believed that it would lead to unsafe design flaws in the 1994 cars. Williams' Ayrton Senna publicly complained that the 1994 cars were less safe and predicted "lots of accidents," and McLaren's Martin Brundle claimed that because of the rushed nature of the changes, the drivers had "less control of the car" than in years past.[13]

Ahead of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, Senna proposed re-forming the GPDA to give the drivers a unified voice in support of safety reforms. However, Senna and Roland Ratzenberger were both killed by on-track accidents during that race weekend.[14][15]

Before the following race, the 1994 Monaco Grand Prix, Niki Lauda, Christian Fittipaldi, Michael Schumacher, and Gerhard Berger re-established the GPDA, with assistance from Martin Brundle.[16] In its early days, the GPDA was opposed by FIA president Max Mosley, who claimed that non-drivers were interfering with the organisation.[17]

In 1996, the GPDA was incorporated as a UK company limited by guarantee ("Grand Prix Drivers Association Ltd").[18] For the first time, the association had a formal corporate constitution and permanent offices in Monaco.[17] The first directors of the incorporated GPDA were Brundle, Schumacher, and Berger.[19]

Driver safety initiatives

[edit]

Since 1994, the GPDA's primary mission has been to improve safety on track. The GPDA threatened to boycott the 2013 German Grand Prix after a series of dangerous tyre blowouts at the British Grand Prix.[20][21] The GPDA also pushed for stricter safety regulations at private team testing sessions, an area that the FIA traditionally did not regulate.[22][23] In 2006, Williams' Alexander Wurz said that the GPDA's safety push had helped cut the drivers' casualty insurance premiums by nearly half.[22]

Aftermath of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix

[edit]
See also: Death of Ayrton Senna § Safety improvements

Following Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger's deaths at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, the reformed GPDA asked the FIA to limit speeds in dangerous areas and improve safety technology.[24] For example, during the 1994 season, temporary chicanes were installed at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya's Nissan corner[25] and the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps' Eau Rouge/Raidillon complex.[26] In addition, a pit lane speed limit was introduced, and tracks were revised to provide larger run-off areas at the most dangerous corners.[27]

2005 tyre war controversy

[edit]

In 2005, Michelin belatedly realised that its tyres could not handle the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's steeply banked Turn 13, prompting the teams with Michelin tyre contracts to drop out of the United States Grand Prix. Ferrari, which had a Bridgestone tyre contract, participated and won the race.[28] Following the race, the FIA sought to punish the Michelin teams for dropping out. In response, the drivers for the Michelin-supplied teams issued a statement arguing that their teams acted appropriately to protect their drivers' safety. However, the GPDA chairman, Ferrari's Michael Schumacher (who won the race), publicly opposed the statement and denied that the GPDA was involved in the statement. Complicating matters, Jarno Trulli (the polesitter, who was forced to drop out) contradicted Schumacher and characterised the statement as a GPDA statement.[29]

Later that year, FIA president Max Mosley cancelled a meeting with the GPDA to discuss the Michelin tyre dispute and proposed safety measures at F1 teams' private test sessions, purportedly in retaliation for statements made by David Coulthard. Mosley claimed Coulthard's statements to the media were a "distortion" of the purpose of the meeting and accused him of stirring up dissent. In response, the GPDA stated that Mosley had threatened to withdraw his support for the GPDA's safety initiatives.[30]

Aftermath of the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix

[edit]

Jules Bianchi was fatally injured at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix and died after several months in a coma. Following his death, the GPDA issued a statement saying that it felt a responsibility "to never relent in improving safety."[31] The GPDA participated in the FIA's official review of the events of the Japanese GP.[32] It also encouraged new safety reforms, including the "halo" cockpit protection device,[33] which Formula One (and some drivers[33]) initially resisted.[34]

2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

[edit]
See also: 2022 Jeddah missile attack

During the weekend of the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the GPDA held a four-hour meeting to discuss multiple missile attacks in the Jeddah region, some as close as 10km from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. After discussing the issue with Saudi government officials and FIA regulators, it eventually issued a statement confirming that the drivers would participate, despite their "natural concerns" about driver and team safety.[35]

Other activities

[edit]

Under the leadership of Alexander Wurz (who became the GPDA chairman in 2014), the organisation grew "increasingly proactive in looking beyond [solely driver safety] to a more holistic bigger picture" about the structure and governance of the sport.[36] In 2023, director George Russell explained that the GPDA was broadly concerned with three main topics: driver safety, "on-track entertainment," and "how it feels to drive the cars."[37]

Racing regulations

[edit]

In 2017, following Liberty Media's purchase of the Formula One Group, the GPDA sent Liberty a letter encouraging it to revise F1's sporting regulations to encourage closer racing. Alexander Wurz explained that "we all love one great natural overtaking much more than ten or more DRS overtakes." However, he also acknowledged Ross Brawn and Pat Symonds' roles in pushing for new regulations, which debuted in 2022.[38] Motor Sport had previously noted that the drivers almost unanimously criticised regulation changes rolled out before the 2017 season, which they felt "will make overtaking even more difficult than it actually is."[36]

Sporting governance

[edit]

In March 2016, following changes to the qualifying system, the GPDA released an open letter written by Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel and Alexander Wurz on behalf of all drivers saying that the sport's leadership was broken, calling the decision making within Formula One "obsolete" and "ill-structured". The GPDA believed that the decision making could "jeopardise F1's future success."[39]

In November 2024, the GPDA released a public statement outlining several grievances against the FIA including the issue of drivers swearing during races, the tone and language of the FIA President (Mohammed Ben Sulayem) in public statements, and the policy surrounding driver fines.[40][41][42] In addition, that year, GPDA director George Russell requested more transparency from the FIA after a series of personnel changes, explaining that "we’d love to get a little bit of clarity [about] what’s going on and who’s getting fired next."[43]

Super License fees

[edit]

The GPDA occasionally protests when the FIA raises the price of the FIA Super License, which all drivers must receive in order to compete in F1. In 2009, the GPDA explained that while it would not oppose reasonable price increases, "Super Licence fees should not be a revenue stream for the FIA" and "as a principle, the drivers should not be taxed to fund the costs of others fulfilling their legal duty to the drivers."[44] The FIA eventually agreed to cut Super License fees ahead of the 2010 season.[45]

Outreach

[edit]

In May 2015, the GPDA and Motorsport.com jointly organised a fan survey with over 200,000 respondents.[46][47] The survey found that respondents generally supported more diversity in cars, technology, and tyre suppliers.[48] GPDA chairman Alexander Wurz interpreted the results as saying that the fans shared the GPDA's views about the overall direction of Formula One. He explained that the fans "do not want [Formula One] to become an artificial show with gimmicks introduced to simply make it more entertaining"[49] and that "F1's business has become too important, jeopardising our sport."[50]

Membership and leadership

[edit]

Membership of GPDA is not compulsory. During the 2017 season, nine drivers and two free practice drivers declined to join.[51] However, by the end of the year, every F1 driver agreed to join the organisation for possibly the first time in association history.[52][53]

Over the years, drivers have declined to join the organisation for a variety of reasons, such as Lewis Hamilton (lack of time and excessive entry fees),[54][55] Michael Schumacher (personal distaste for the GPDA chairman),[56] Kimi Räikkönen (lack of interest),[55] and Max Verstappen (felt attacked by several drivers who were GPDA members and doubtful of the organisation's effectiveness),[57] although Hamilton, Schumacher, Räikkönen, and Verstappen all eventually reconsidered.[58][56][53][59]

GPDA members elect their representatives. As of 2024, there are three directors: active Formula One driver George Russell, legal adviser Anastasia Fowle (the first non-F1 driver past or present to be appointed a GPDA director) and former Formula One driver Alexander Wurz, who serves as chairman.[60][61][62] In addition, former F1 driver Sebastian Vettel is still listed as a director on the Companies House website as of December 2024,[18] although he stepped down from active leadership that February.[63]

List of chairmen

[edit]
Chairman Years of service
United Kingdom Stirling Moss 1961–1963
Sweden Jo Bonnier 1963–1971
United Kingdom Jackie Stewart 1972–1978
South Africa Jody Scheckter 1979–1980
France Didier Pironi 1980–1982
GPDA disbanded 1982–1994
Germany Michael Schumacher 1994–2005
United Kingdom David Coulthard 2005–2006
Germany Ralf Schumacher 2006–2008
Spain Pedro de la Rosa 2008–2010, 2012–2014
Germany Nick Heidfeld 2010
Brazil Rubens Barrichello 2010–2012
Austria Alexander Wurz 2014–present

List of directors

[edit]

Note: from 1996[64][65][66][67][68]

Director Years As chairman
Germany Michael Schumacher 1996–2005 1996–2005
Austria Gerhard Berger 1996
United Kingdom Martin Brundle 1996
United Kingdom Damon Hill 1996–1998
United Kingdom David Coulthard 1996–2006 2005–2006
Austria Alexander Wurz 1998–2001
2014–present 		2014–present
Italy Jarno Trulli 2001–2006
Australia Mark Webber 2003–2005
2006–2010
Germany Ralf Schumacher 2006–2007 2006–2008
Spain Fernando Alonso 2006–2010
Spain Pedro de la Rosa 2008–2010
2012–2014 		2008–2010
2012–2014
Germany Nick Heidfeld 2010 2010
Brazil Felipe Massa 2010–2013
Germany Sebastian Vettel 2010–present
Brazil Rubens Barrichello 2010–2011 2010–2011
United Kingdom Jenson Button 2013–2017
France Romain Grosjean 2017–2020
United Kingdom George Russell 2021–present
United Kingdom Anastasia Fowle 2021–present

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Whitelock, Mark (2006). 1½-litre Grand Prix Racing. Veloce Publishing Ltd. p. 42. ISBN 1-84584-016-X.
  2. ^ Fearnley, Paul (29 August 2019). "F1 history: The 1969 Belgian Grand Prix that never happened". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Circuits: Nurburgring". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b Schot, Marcel. "The F1 FAQ". atlasf1.autosport.com. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b "F1 drivers on strike at the first GP". Historyracingpedia. 16 March 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  6. ^ "FISA/FOCA war". Autosport. 2 June 1980. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  7. ^ "1980: FISA/FOCA war over F1". Autosport. 26 May 1980. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  8. ^ Diepraam, Mattijs (13 December 2007). "8W - When? - The FISA-FOCA war". www.forix.com. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Kyalami drivers' strike". Autosport. 2 June 1992. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  10. ^ "The Formula One Scene". Motor Sport Magazine. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Re-writing the F1 rulebook - Part 2: from driver aids to increased safety". Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  12. ^ a b Spurgeon, Brad (11 December 1993). "So Hard on Prost, Racing Pulls a Punch for Senna". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  13. ^ Ibrar, Malik (7 July 2019). "Did a Return to Simpler Cars in 1994 Contribute to the Accidents?". UnracedF1.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  14. ^ Cooper, Adam; Morrison, Mac (30 April 2014). "How the deaths of Ayrton Senna, Roland Ratzenberger changed Formula One safety forever". Autoweek. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  15. ^ Jones, Dylan (22 April 2011). "The last 96 hours of Ayrton Senna". 8wforix. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  16. ^ Collantine, Keith (15 May 2014). "Schumacher takes fourth win at subdued Monaco". RaceFans. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  17. ^ a b "The drivers challenge Mosley". GrandPrix.com. Inside F1, Inc. 1 April 1996.
  18. ^ a b "Company No. 03157191". Companies House.
  19. ^ "Certificate of Incorporation of a Private Limited Company - Company No. 3157191". Companies House. 5 February 1996. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  20. ^ "German Grand Prix: Drivers' withdrawal threat over tyres". BBC Sport. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Drivers threaten to boycott German Grand Prix after dangerous tyre explosions". The Daily Telegraph. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  22. ^ a b "When Formula One Drivers Work as a Team". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  23. ^ Knutson, Dan (6 May 2006). "Knutson: Webber sounds off about testing safety". ESPN.com. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  24. ^ Phillips, James (1 May 2024). "Ayrton Senna and Imola 1994: F1's darkest weekend". FormulaNerds.com. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  25. ^ "F1 – 1994 FIA Review – 05 Spain". YouTube. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  26. ^ Wood, Will (6 July 2023). "Bring back Eau Rouge chicane after driver deaths at Spa - Zhou". RaceFans. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  27. ^ Duxbury, Anna (26 November 2021). "History of safety devices in Formula 1: The halo, barriers & more". Autosport. Archived from the original on 22 July 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  28. ^ Cooper, Adam (19 June 2020). "The 2005 US GP farce: The full inside story". Archived from the original on 16 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  29. ^ "Indy drivers' protest: only Schumie wouldn't sign". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  30. ^ "GPDA Statement ".
  31. ^ "Jules Bianchi death: F1 must 'never relent in improving safety'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  32. ^ Wood, Will (5 October 2024). "10 years since F1's last fatal crash: How Bianchi tragedy changed motorsport". RaceFans. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  33. ^ a b Noble, Jonathan (20 July 2017). "Formula 1 drivers' GPDA backs controversial 2018 FIA halo decision".
  34. ^ "GPDA surprised by F1's Halo U-turn". ESPN.com. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  35. ^ "Drivers agree to race despite missile attack". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  36. ^ a b Hughes, Mark (24 March 2016). "Why Formula 1 drivers are in revolt". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  37. ^ Cooper, Sam (7 September 2023). "George Russell reveals three key factors dominating latest F1 driver meetings". PlanetF1. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  38. ^ Noble, Jonathan (22 February 2022). "How a drivers' letter helped set in motion F1's new rules era". Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  39. ^ Benson, Andrew. "GPDA letter: What were Formula 1 drivers trying to achieve?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  40. ^ "GPDA release statement about the swearing controversy towards the FIA". Sky Sports. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  41. ^ Benson, Andrew (7 November 2024). "F1 drivers ask FIA to treat them like adults". BBC News. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  42. ^ Boxall-Legge, Jake (7 November 2024). "GPDA asks FIA to treat F1 drivers like adults over swearing row". Motorsport. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  43. ^ "George Russell says F1 drivers want to know 'who's getting fired next' as key staff leave FIA". AP News. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  44. ^ "The full statement from the GPDA". Autosport. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  45. ^ "F1 set to cut super-licence fee". BBC Sport. 24 March 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  46. ^ "GPDA and Motorsport.com Launch Global Fan Survey". Motorsport.com.
  47. ^ "Grand Prix Drivers' Association Sets Global Fan Survey Record". Motorsport.com. 12 June 2015.
  48. ^ "Global Formula 1™ Fan Survey 2015 Executive Summary" (PDF). Grand Prix Drivers' Association. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  49. ^ "Formula 1 2015: Grand Prix Drivers Association releases findings from Global Fan Survey". Fox Sports. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  50. ^ "F1 fans think sport has become too boring and expensive, says survey". The Guardian. 1 July 2015. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  51. ^ van Osten, Phillip (14 May 2017). "Grosjean blasts and discloses non-GPDA members". F1i.com. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  52. ^ Benson, Andrew. "Formula 1 drivers' union gets '100%' membership due to concerns over future". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  53. ^ a b Gray, James (13 December 2017). "Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen both make move because of 'politics'". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  54. ^ "Online: Hamilton stance on union 'wrong'". BBC News. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  55. ^ a b Noble, Jonathan (11 May 2008). "Hamilton unmoved by GPDA calls". Autosport. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  56. ^ a b "Schumacher to be 'silent' GPDA member - spokeswoman". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  57. ^ "Max Verstappen slams fan survey, Formula One Grand Prix Drivers' Association". Autoweek. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  58. ^ Panzariu, Ovidiu (26 March 2009). "Lewis Hamilton Joins the GPDA". autoevolution. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  59. ^ Mulder, Nicole (7 December 2024). "Verstappen and Russell put side by side by GPDA: 'The other drivers wanted that'". GPblog.com. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  60. ^ Percy, Robert (21 March 2021). "George Russell will replace Romain Grosjean as a director of the GPDA". DriveTribe. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  61. ^ Collantine, Keith (23 March 2021). "Russell and Fowle become GPDA directors as Grosjean steps back". RaceFans. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  62. ^ Cooper, Sam (8 February 2024). "Another hint dropped on Sebastian Vettel's F1 future with update on GPDA role". PlanetF1. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  63. ^ Cooper, Sam (8 February 2024). "Exclusive: Sebastian Vettel GPDA future decided as he 'steps back' from active role". PlanetF1. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  64. ^ "Trulli elected to GPDA". 25 May 2001.
  65. ^ Noble, Jonathan (29 September 2006). "Alonso elected as GPDA director". autosport.com. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  66. ^ "Barrichello replaces Heidfeld as GPDA director". Reuters. 28 August 2010.
  67. ^ "Romain Grosjean replaces Jenson Button as F1 GPDA director".
  68. ^ "All change at the GPDA".
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grand_Prix_Drivers%27_Association&oldid=1265529054"