Carlos Sainz Named President of the Formula 1 Drivers Association
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Sainz replaces Vettel as the fourth director of the GPDA
Published 23 February 2025 Carlos Sainz has become a director of the Formula 1 drivers’ body, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA). The 30-year-old Spaniard, who moved from Ferrari to Williams for this season, fills the vacancy left by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who retired from F1 at the end of 2022 and stepped down as a GPDA director last year.
In a post on Instagram announcing the appointment, Sainz said: “I am passionate about my sport and believe we drivers have a responsibility to work with stakeholders to advance it in various areas. So I’m very happy and proud to take on this directors’ role within the GPDA.”
Sainz joins chairman Alex Wurz, Mercedes driver George Russell, and Anastasia Fowle as leaders of the GPDA. “We are delighted to welcome Carlos as a new director,” said Wurz. “He has been an active and engaged member of the GPDA for several years and we appreciate his commitment in stepping up to this vital role.”
The GPDA was established back in the early 1960s, primarily focusing on safety matters. For instance, the association played a key role in implementing the ‘halo’ head protection device for F1 cars starting from the 2018 season. The halo has since saved several lives in serious accidents.
However, in recent years, drivers have increasingly found themselves at odds with Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of governing body Formula One Administration (FIA), who was elected to office in 2021. Ben Sulayem’s actions have led to concerns among many stakeholders in F1.
One such issue is the decision by the FIA in January to create a procedure allowing drivers to face race bans for swearing. The exact application of these rules remains unclear, and there has been no further guidance from the governing body on this matter.
In November last year, Adrien Fourmaux became the first driver to fall foul of this new regulation when he was fined 10,000 for using offensive language during a TV interview at Rally Sweden. In response to these developments, Sainz has expressed that it is wrong to threaten drivers with bans for swearing.
While acknowledging that bad language should be avoided in news conferences and television interviews, Sainz believes the current approach by the FIA does not treat drivers as adults. In November, the GPDA wrote an open letter to the FIA, asking them to explain how fines are applied and emphasizing that such penalties are inappropriate.
They have received no response from the FIA regarding their concerns. This follows other interventions by Ben Sulayem, including a ban on drivers wearing jewelry during races, which has also irritated many in the driver community.
The GPDA’s appointment of Sainz as its new director marks another step in addressing these growing tensions within Formula 1 and between drivers and governing bodies. As the sport continues to evolve, it will be crucial for stakeholders like the FIA and the GPDA to find common ground on issues that affect safety, rules, and driver well-being.
