Russell by no means anticipated GPDA F1 position to get “so political”

George Russell “by no means anticipated to have a lot on my palms and for it to be so political” in his Method 1 position as a Grand Prix Drivers’ Affiliation director. 

For the reason that begin of the 2021 season, Russell’s third in F1, the Mercedes driver has been a director of the drivers’ physique, as he changed Romain Grosjean following the Frenchman’s exit from Haas and the championship.

When Sebastian Vettel retired on the finish of the next 12 months, it left Russell as the one actively racing member of the GPDA.

He works alongside chairman and former F1 driver Alexander Wurz, plus fellow director and authorized consultant Anastasia Fowle.

In his time representing the GPDA, Russell’s stint has taken within the close to drivers’ strike following the missile assault on the 2022 Saudia Arabian Grand Prix and the present stress between the racers and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The GPDA launched a letter in November imploring the FIA to deal with its members as “adults” after Ben Sulayem had ignited controversy along with his stance to clampdown on driver swearing.

That is amid a wider push from throughout the governing physique to cease drivers by chance inciting abuse of officers with feedback picked up shortly by usually partisan fanbases.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA, congratulates George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Workforce, third place, on the rostrum

Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs

Russell then mentioned he was shocked to obtain no response to the letter, with Ben Sulayem later telling the drivers by way of one other media interview it was “none of their enterprise” how he runs motorsport.

Russell was requested to present his newest views on the matter total – together with the event that the FIA deliberate handy issues of compliance on to Ben Sulayem and the president of its senate, which was subsequently voted by way of at this month’s FIA common meeting – in the course of the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi.

“After I signed up in my position as GPDA [director], I by no means anticipated to have a lot on my palms and for it to be so political,” Russell advised choose media, together with Motorsport.com.

“I do not actually perceive any of this aspect of the game. And it was extra from a sporting perspective and security perspective that I wished to get my palms soiled with. 

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“Whereas, now, it appears all we’re speaking about is the politics of the game.

“I do not wish to remark an excessive amount of on it [the FIA’s compliance system changes] as a result of I am not educated sufficient to make these assumptions. 

“However I feel what it’s raised [is that] all of the drives are united, that solely we wish one of the best for the game. We wish transparency. And we wish to assist the FIA and so simple as that.”