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A desire to “look back in 20 years’ time and say I was a part of a positive change in Formula 1” is behind George Russell’s decision to become a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association.
Williams driver Russell, with only two seasons on the F1 grid behind him and at the age of 23, is replacing Romain Grosjean as one of the directors of the GPDA, which is effectively the drivers’ trade union and pressure group.
He joins four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, ex-racer Alex Wurz and former GPDA legal advisor Anastasia Fowle in the leadership of the organisation.
Russell explained that he had enjoyed the regular GPDA meetings and the drivers’ conversations after them since arriving on the grid in 2019.
“We stay after the briefing and talk about certain issues, or ways in which we believe we could improve the sport – safety, whatever it may be,” he said.
“Obviously it was slightly harder in 2020 with the logistical issues of COVID.
“I was always quite vocal, I always quite enjoyed putting my opinion forward and I guess having a voice for the drivers is something that I’m quite proud of.
“And obviously I have a good relationship with a lot of the younger drivers.
“I guess Sebastian is almost representing the older half of the grid, I’m representing the younger half of the grid.”
Why Russell is a great GPDA choice
– Edd Straw
Russell has the respect of his fellow competitors – after all, if he didn’t he wouldn’t have been accepted as a director – and is an intelligent, thoughtful character who has also shown himself willing and able to express his opinion. A GPDA director has to be willing to put their head above the parapet.
While such inexperienced drivers becoming GPDA directors isn’t unprecedented, those who do become directors so early in their careers tend to be that kind of character.
Russell is a remarkably focused competitor, but he also has a broad view of the world and is engaged in F1 matters that some rivals might perceive as peripheral to their job. He’s also savvy enough to take any competitive edge he might gain from this role, albeit not in a way that compromises his GPDA input.
**Click here for more on Russell’s appointment**
The GPDA has a long history in F1, and was revived in its current form amid the tragic 1994 season in which Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna lost their lives.
Russell said “what the GDPA has done over so many years has been great for the sport”, but that what made it particularly appealing to him now was the feeling that F1 chiefs Stefano Domenicali and Ross Brawn were heeding the drivers’ views and keen to push the championship forward.
“The future of F1 is looking incredibly bright, with Liberty, now with Stefano and Ross at the helm,” said Russell.
“From our side, I think the drivers are having a stronger and stronger voice to help shape that future of the sport.
“We’re in a unique position to be the one to feel it from the driver’s perspective, which is obviously a huge part of F1.
“Being at the forefront with Sebastian and Alex Wurz to push forwards these views of the drivers towards F1, towards the FIA, if I can look back and say I was a part of that, that will be something I’ll be proud of.”
Asked by The Race how he envisaged the GPDA evolving over the coming seasons, Russell replied that the drivers’ involvement in F1 decision-making had been “increasing year on year” even in his time on the grid.
“F1 is open and want us to be more involved, so what can the future hold?” he added.
“I’m not too sure, potentially just further outside of F1 and motorsport in general, that would be fantastic really.
“I’m the new boy on the block in this role, so I can’t give too many opinions at the moment, just listen and learn and find my feet as time progresses.”
