The three-time Formula 1 champion has presided over the GP Drivers’ Association in the past and has called for a more active voice from competitors in the decisions taken in the category
Born in 1961 to give pilots a voice in the political events of the Formula 1mainly referring to the safety of competitors on the track, the GPDA extension (acronym in English for Association of GP Drivers) has ended up losing strength over the years, which the three-time champion of the category, Jackie Stewart, consider “a mistake”. The Scotsman believes the grid should have more influence in decisions regarding the sport.
GPDA is currently led by George Russellwho has served as a director on the organization’s board of directors since 2021. Lewis Hamilton, had already demanded from the Association a more important role as in the past. The placement came after a meeting held in November, when the drivers were together to celebrate the farewell of Sabastian Vettel.
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“Maybe we’ll make it an annual thing, but there’s a lot going on as a GPDA, as a united group,” Hamilton said at the time. “We have a responsibility, we have a great platform together and F1 has a lot to do in terms of action,” he added.
Stewart was supportive: “I was president of the GP Drivers’ Association when it was much more powerful than it is today. [a perda de relevância] wrong, we should have more influence,” the 83-year-old ex-racer told Express Sport.
In the 1980s, the constant conflicts between FOCA (F1 Manufacturers’ Association) and FIA (International Automobile Federation) weakened the drivers’ association. The group had a lot of voice again at the time of the fatal accidents of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna in 1994.
The GPDA already had prominent names in the presidency, such as Rubens Barrichello and the seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, but it also did not escape controversies, such as the one involving the German himself and the controversial maneuver at the 2006 Monaco GP. era: Jarno Trulli, Jacques Villeneuve and Pedro de la Rosa.
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Source: Terra
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
