Alex Wurz, chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA),
has confirmed he deliberately placed Max Verstappen and George
Russell together in the picture featuring all 20 F1 drivers in Abu
Dhabi. Verstappen and Russell had a public spat through the media
throughout the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. The feud escalated
from an incident that occurred one week prior in Qatar, with
Verstappen taking issue with Russell's aggressive push for a
penalty to be issued to the Red Bull driver post-qualifying. During
the final race weekend of the campaign, the GPDA published an image
that consisted of all 20 drivers. People were quick to point out
Verstappen and Russell paired together at the front. “That was
absolutely on purpose,” Wurz confirmed, speaking to Formule1.de .
“It was agreed with all the drivers, the 20 members who were at the
meeting. “It's very important for me to say, 'Guys, the sport is
bigger than the individual and the GPDA is bigger than the
individual members'. “The GPDA is the platform for us to work
together in the interest of the drivers, safety, the sport and the
fans. “To set the tone I also said, 'Pictures say more than a
thousand words, just come and stand together. You don't have to hug
each other, you don't have to shake hands, and you don't have to
kiss each other, even though everyone else wanted to'.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/DDRUfsKtYrd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
View this post on Instagram A post shared by
@grandprixdriversassociation The GPDA, which was formed several
decades ago, allows the drivers to collectively voice their issues
from a competitor's point of view. Wurz asserted the picture with
Verstappen and Russell alongside one another was a “signal” that
the drivers are united regarding their concerns on the track. But
the Austrian stressed that the GPDA has no intention of acting as a
mediator to put the quarrel to bed. “No, I really don't want to do
that in this case,” he said. “They have to do it themselves. “They
are mature enough to do that, maybe in the winter. I only saw
myself here in my position within the GPDA, and that was on
purpose. “If someone asked me, I would of course do it. But even
then it is too early to intervene now. I thought it was important
first of all that they both realise that the GPDA wants to show the
outside world that we are united. “Despite everything, we are
united. But there comes a time when we have to send a signal: we
respect each other, for the fans and for safety. And there is no
more discussion. Not from either side.”
has confirmed he deliberately placed Max Verstappen and George
Russell together in the picture featuring all 20 F1 drivers in Abu
Dhabi. Verstappen and Russell had a public spat through the media
throughout the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. The feud escalated
from an incident that occurred one week prior in Qatar, with
Verstappen taking issue with Russell's aggressive push for a
penalty to be issued to the Red Bull driver post-qualifying. During
the final race weekend of the campaign, the GPDA published an image
that consisted of all 20 drivers. People were quick to point out
Verstappen and Russell paired together at the front. “That was
absolutely on purpose,” Wurz confirmed, speaking to Formule1.de .
“It was agreed with all the drivers, the 20 members who were at the
meeting. “It's very important for me to say, 'Guys, the sport is
bigger than the individual and the GPDA is bigger than the
individual members'. “The GPDA is the platform for us to work
together in the interest of the drivers, safety, the sport and the
fans. “To set the tone I also said, 'Pictures say more than a
thousand words, just come and stand together. You don't have to hug
each other, you don't have to shake hands, and you don't have to
kiss each other, even though everyone else wanted to'.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/DDRUfsKtYrd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
View this post on Instagram A post shared by
@grandprixdriversassociation The GPDA, which was formed several
decades ago, allows the drivers to collectively voice their issues
from a competitor's point of view. Wurz asserted the picture with
Verstappen and Russell alongside one another was a “signal” that
the drivers are united regarding their concerns on the track. But
the Austrian stressed that the GPDA has no intention of acting as a
mediator to put the quarrel to bed. “No, I really don't want to do
that in this case,” he said. “They have to do it themselves. “They
are mature enough to do that, maybe in the winter. I only saw
myself here in my position within the GPDA, and that was on
purpose. “If someone asked me, I would of course do it. But even
then it is too early to intervene now. I thought it was important
first of all that they both realise that the GPDA wants to show the
outside world that we are united. “Despite everything, we are
united. But there comes a time when we have to send a signal: we
respect each other, for the fans and for safety. And there is no
more discussion. Not from either side.”
