Lewis Hamilton has warned the FIA that the F1 drivers won’t back down in their calls for change from the hierarchy.
The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), which represents all F1 drivers, released a strongly-worded statement earlier this month in the wake of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc being punished for swearing.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said earlier this year that he wanted to crack down on swearing from drivers and said F1 must ‘differentiate between our sport – motor sport – and rap music’.
The comment was heavily criticised by Hamilton, who felt there was a ‘racial element’ to Ben Sulayem’s words.
Lewis Hamilton wants change from the FIA
PREUTERS
The GDPA’s statement earlier this month appeared to reference Ben Sulayem’s use of language and called for the governing body to stop treating the drivers like children.
It was their first collective public statement in seven years, highlighting their unified frustration with the FIA and Ben Sulayem.
George Russell revealed this week ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix that the FIA has not yet reached out to the GDPA in response to the statement.
And Hamilton has warned the governing body that the drivers will be chasing them up if their silence continues.
“If we don’t get a response, I’m sure we’ll chase them up,” Hamilton said.
“I know a lot is happening, but it is to show that the drivers are more united than ever. You didn’t always see that in the past.
“There are some things that need addressing, and FIA needs to be better at working and collaborating with us.
“We want the sport to continue to thrive and be better.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem wanted a crackdown on swearing from drivers
PA
“We have zero to gain with the comments that we’re making in terms of things that can be better through the race weekends, and all we’re asking is to communicate with us more and include us.”
Russell, who is the GDPA director, also called out the FIA over their lack of response after the initial statement.
He said: “If we feel we are being listened to and some of the changes we are requesting are implemented, because we are only doing it for the benefit of the sport, then maybe our confidence will increase.
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Max Verstappen was punished earlier this year
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“There are a number of drivers who feel a bit fed up with the whole situation and it only seems to be going, to a degree, in the wrong direction.
“All the drivers, we feel pretty similar, we know what we want from the sport and the directions it has been heading and we feel we want a small U-turn on a number of topics and we want to work together with the FIA on this and we felt that has not been happening at all from the president.”
He added: “Getting things to change or promises upheld seems slightly more challenging. Maybe the FIA or the president did not recognise how seriously we all felt. Over the course of 20 races this year and even last year we spoke about a number of topics.”