Grand Prix Drivers' Association

Grand Prix Drivers' Association

Abbreviation	GPDA
Formation	formed: 11 May 1961 disbanded: (February) 1982 reformed: (13) May 1994
Headquarters	Monaco
Region served	International
Chairman	Alexander Wurz
Directors	George Russell Anastasia Fowle

The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) is the trade union of Formula One drivers.

History

The GPDA was founded in May 1961 and, following an election by members, its inaugural Chairman was Stirling Moss.

Its initial aims of this organisation were to obtain representation on the Commission Sportive Internationale (CSI) of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), which at the time was motorsport's governing body, in order to improve safety standards and provisions for both drivers and spectators. After Moss retired from the sport in 1963, Jo Bonnier succeeded him.

The organisation was disbanded following the events during the 1982 South African Grand Prix due to the sport's changing commercial arrangements, the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA) adding restrictive clauses to the FIA Super Licence, and the conflict between the Formula One Constructors Association (FOCA) and FIA. It was replaced by the Professional Racing Drivers Association (PRDA) at a drivers' meeting in Paris before the planned-then-cancelled Argentine Grand Prix.

Niki Lauda, Christian Fittipaldi, Michael Schumacher and Gerhard Berger re-established the GPDA over the 1994 Monaco Grand Prix race weekend, following the events of the preceding San Marino Grand Prix, which culminated with the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, during the Sunday race and Saturday qualifying respectively. Shortly before his own fatal accident, and following the fatal accident of Ratzenberger and the serious accident of Rubens Barrichello during Thursday practice, Senna spent his final morning on the Sunday talking to former teammate and rival Alain Prost to discuss the re-establishment of the GPDA and had offered to take the Chairman role starting from the Monaco Grand Prix.

In 1996, the association was incorporated in the UK as a company limited by guarantee ("Grand Prix Drivers Association Ltd"). For the first time, the association had a formal constitution, and permanent offices in Monaco.

Membership and leadership

Membership of GPDA is not compulsory. For example, during the 2013 Formula One season, only 19 out of 22 active drivers were members (with Kimi Räikkönen, Adrian Sutil and Valtteri Bottas being the exceptions). As of 2008 membership cost £2,000. It was announced on 13 December 2017 that all the drivers had signed up.

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.

List of chairmen

Chairman	Years of service
Stirling Moss	1961–1963
Jo Bonnier	1963–1971
Jackie Stewart	1972–1978
Jody Scheckter	1979–1980
Didier Pironi	1980–1982
GPDA disbanded	1982–1994
Michael Schumacher	1994–2005
David Coulthard	2005–2006
Ralf Schumacher	2006–2008
Pedro de la Rosa	2008–2010, 2012–2014
Nick Heidfeld	2010
Rubens Barrichello	2010–2012
Alexander Wurz	2014–present

List of directors

Note: from 1996

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

Controversies

During the 2005 season the GPDA became increasingly involved in the politics (and controversy) of Formula One.

Following the United States Grand Prix, the GPDA issued a statement supporting the case of the Michelin teams in the FIA World Motor Sport Council. Significantly, though the majority of drivers signed the statement, Michael Schumacher did not. He claimed that he was not asked to and would not have done so, in any event. The statement claimed that the FIA's proposed solutions to the problems experienced by the Michelin teams were unworkable. Schumacher claimed the problems at Indianapolis were technical rather than a safety issue.

A meeting between the GPDA and FIA president Max Mosley, scheduled for the British Grand Prix, was cancelled by Mosley because of 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 retaliation the GPDA released a letter that had been sent to Mosley accusing him of jeopardising the GPDA's drive for improved safety:

“We were also concerned to learn that during the course of [a telephone conversation with Coulthard], you suggested the FIA might withdraw support for the ongoing safety initiatives of the GPDA... The GPDA believes that safety issues are of the highest importance and are disappointed not to receive the full support of the FIA president in this matter".

In 2010, upon his return to the sport as a competitor, Michael Schumacher announced that he did not intend to join the GPDA. He subsequently became a "silent member" following discussions with GPDA directors (chiefly, Felipe Massa).

Notable activities

Thanks to the activism of the GPDA, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps was boycotted in 1969 and the Nürburgring in 1970 and after 1976, over safety concerns.

In 2013, following a series of tyre blowouts at the British Grand Prix, tyre safety became a major issue, with the GPDA announcing through a statement that its member drivers would withdraw from the subsequent German Grand Prix unless remedial action was taken.

In May 2015, the GPDA and Motorsport.com joined forces to allow followers of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship to voice and share their opinions about the sport through an extensive worldwide survey for fans. More than 200,000 respondents participated in the survey.

In July 2015, following the death of Jules Bianchi at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, the GPDA announced that it felt a responsibility "to never relent in improving safety."

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."

After the second free practice session of the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the GPDA held a four-hour meeting after multiple instances of missile attacks, some as close as 10km from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Pierre Gasly spoke to media later, saying, "Everyone was able to give their opinion. We were aligned with our intentions." A later statement from the FIA and Formula 1 assured that racing would go ahead and that the track was safe. GPDA chairman Alexander Wurz also issued a statement.

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.

See also

• Jackie Stewart
• Sid Watkins
• Road safety

External links

• Hamilton stance on union 'wrong' BBC 18 March 2008