Source: REUTERS/HAMAD I MOHAMMED
[Saba Sports News] As the chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), Mercedes driver George Russell has found his role to be more political than expected. Since taking on this position in 2021, he has co-led the drivers’ union with Sebastian Vettel. Following Vettel’s retirement, Russell became the only active driver in this role. Previously, he approached the position from a sporting and safety perspective, wanting to be directly involved in motorsport. However, he now has to deal with many matters negotiated with the FIA, including driver interests, safety, sports regulations, and their application in actual races. He works alongside chairman and former F1 driver Alexander Worth and board member and lawyer Anastasia, who is the first non-driver member to serve on the GPDA board since its inception. In the 2024 season, the GPDA issued an open letter calling on the FIA to address recent issues concerning drivers. Russell stated that he does not want to comment extensively on changes to the FIA’s regulatory framework, as he feels he has not been educated enough to make such assumptions. However, he emphasized that all motivations are united, and they want the sport to be at its best, seeking transparency and hoping to assist the FIA.