Russell never expected GPDA F1 role to get “so political”

George Russell “never expected to have so much on my hands and for it to be so political” in his Formula 1 role as a Grand Prix Drivers’ Association director. 

Since the start of the 2021 season, Russell’s third in F1, the Mercedes driver has been a director of the drivers’ body, as he replaced Romain Grosjean following the Frenchman’s exit from Haas and the championship.

When Sebastian Vettel retired at the end of the following year, it left Russell as the only actively racing member of the GPDA.

He works alongside chairman and former F1 driver Alexander Wurz, plus fellow director and legal representative Anastasia Fowle.

In his time representing the GPDA, Russell’s stint has taken in the near drivers’ strike following the missile attack at the 2022 Saudia Arabian Grand Prix and the current tension between the racers and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The GPDA released a letter in November imploring the FIA to treat its members as “adults” after Ben Sulayem had ignited controversy with his stance to clampdown on driver swearing.

This is amid a wider push from within the governing body to stop drivers accidentally inciting abuse of officials with comments picked up quickly by often partisan fanbases.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA, congratulates George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, 3rd position, on the podium

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Russell then said he was shocked to receive no response to the letter, with Ben Sulayem later telling the drivers via another media interview it was “none of their business” how he runs motorsport.

Russell was asked to give his latest views on the matter overall – including the development that the FIA planned to hand matters of compliance directly to Ben Sulayem and the president of its senate, which was subsequently voted through at this month’s FIA general assembly – during the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi.

“When I signed up in my role as GPDA [director], I never expected to have so much on my hands and for it to be so political,” Russell told select media, including Autosport. 

“I don’t really understand any of this this side of the sport. And it was more from a sporting perspective and safety perspective that I wanted to get my hands dirty with. 

“Whereas, now, it seems all we’re talking about is the politics of the sport.

“I don’t want to comment too much on it [the FIA’s compliance system changes] because I’m not educated enough to make those assumptions. 

“But I think what it’s raised [is that] all the drives are united, that solely we want the best for the sport. We want transparency. And we want to help the FIA and as simple as that.”