Lewis Hamilton has led a call demanding changes that would give Formula One drivers a formal place in discussions with the sport’s governing body, the FIA, and warned that they could act collectively to facilitate such a change, potentially acting as other sports have with a strong union representation.
Hamilton made the remarks after the president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, had intimated in a post on social media this week that he was considering adjusting the rules around the unpopular and controversial punishments for drivers for offences including political statements and swearing.
Ben Sulayem’s statement follows events at the last round in Saudi Arabia where Max Verstappen intimated that he was unwilling to answer questions over a stewarding decision because he felt the strictures of FIA regulations might cause him to be fined if he expressed a certain opinion.
The issue has been a bone of contention between drivers and the FIA since last year, when Verstappen was punished for swearing in a press conference. The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), the body which represents the 20 F1 drivers, all of whom are members, then wrote an open letter to the FIA calling on the governing body to treat them like adults and to discuss the issues. The FIA did not respond.
Hamilton believed the drivers were not being given due consideration. “Ultimately, the GPDA is very unified. We want to be able to work closely with the FIA,” he said. “Of course, we’ve faced a bit of an uphill challenge in that communication over time. Ultimately we don’t hold a power seat at the table and that needs to change in my opinion. If you look at other sports that have unions that may be something that comes into play at some stage.
“We don’t want to control things, we just want to collaborate with them more and have our voices heard.”
The GPDA is a private limited company with a formal constitution but not a registered trade union, such as the Porfessionl Footballers’ Association, although it could still come to an agreement among members to act collectively. George Russell, a GPDA director, noted that Ben Sulayem had made his remarks without any reference or dialogue with the drivers and that they had still had no response from the governing body since publishing the open letter.
“It’s unprecedented times we’ve been in the last 18 months with what’s been changing, what’s happening,” Russell said. “We want to see these things put into action rather than saying: ‘We’re considering things’. We all consider a lot of things. We’re clear we want changes and once they are implemented, then we’ll comment on it. The words don’t mean anything until the change has been made.
“It’ll be great if changes were made and the drivers were at least heard and I think it’s just in the best interest for the sport and ensuring that some common sense is applied to these situations.”
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It is considered among some in the paddock that Ben Sulayem’s statement was merely a tactic in attempting to align with drivers as he faces re-election for the presidency this year.
Verstappen did not attend the pre-race media day in Miami. His Red Bull team explained he was with his partner, Kelly Piquet, who is expecting the birth of the couple’s first child. The world champion will be attending on Friday, when running begins with practice and then qualifying for Saturday’s sprint race.
A statement from the team read: “Max will not be attending media day in Miami as he is expecting a baby. All is well and he will attend track tomorrow for the race weekend. We will not be offering any further comment at this time in respect towards the privacy of Max and his family.”