The Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) has issued a strongly-worded open letter to the FIA, urging President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and his team to approach their relationship with F1 drivers in a more respectful and mature manner.
Posted on the GPDA’s new Instagram account, the letter addresses recent tensions over penalties for swearing and long-held frustrations with one-sided communication and a lack of financial transparency within the sport.
The GPDA called on the FIA to treat drivers as “adults” and to foster a more collaborative relationship, recognizing drivers as essential voices in F1. This appeal reflects growing dissatisfaction among drivers over what they see as unnecessary control and public scolding.
The letter follows recent incidents involving high-profile drivers like Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, who were penalized for using explicit language in press conferences. Verstappen’s swearing in Singapore led to a “community service” assignment, while Leclerc was fined €10,000 for a similar incident in Mexico.
The statement read: “As is the case with every sport, competitors must abide by the referee’s decision, whether they like it or not, indeed whether they agree with it or not. That is how sport works. The Drivers (our members) are no different, and fully understand that.
“Our members are professional drivers, racing in Formula 1, the pinnacle of international motorsport. They are gladiators and every racing weekend they put on a great show for the fans.
“With regards to swearing, there is a difference between swearing intended to insult others and more casual swearing, such as you might use to describe bad weather, or indeed an inanimate object such as a Formula 1 car, or a driving situation.
“We urge the FIA President to also consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise. Further, our members are adults, they do not need to be given instructions via the media, about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewellery and underpants.
“The GPDA has, on countless occasions, expressed its view that Driver monetary fines are not appropriate for our Sport. For the past 3 years, we have called upon the FIA President to share the details and strategy regarding how the FIA’s financial fines are allocated and where the funds are spent. We have also relayed our concerns about the negative image financial fines bring to the Sport. We once again request that the FIA President provides financial transparency and direct, open dialogue with us. All stakeholders (FIA, F1, the Teams and the GPDA) should jointly determine how and where the money is spent for the benefit of our Sport.
“The GPDA wishes to collaborate in a constructive way with all the stakeholders, including the FIA President, in order to promote our great Sport for the benefit of everyone who works in it, pays for it, watches it, and indeed loves it. We are playing our part.”