NEARLY all the F1 drivers got together on Wednesday to have dinner ahead of this weekend’s Chinese GP.In a strong statement following Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone’s patronising response to recent concerns registered by senior drivers, all the biggest names in the sport came together in a display of unity.
Using the hashtag #RacingUnited — or, as noted by world championship leader Nico Rosberg: “in Bernie’s words: #windbagsunited” — most of them took their own Twitter account to post an image of the selfie.
The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association also Tweeted about the event.
The GPDA had issued a letter to the heads of F1 announcing their dissatisfaction with the direction of the sport earlier in the season, and it remains to be seen what — if any — other actions they will take in 2016. Bernie Ecclestone’s response to that letter was that the drivers were “windbags”.
The 18 drivers pictured at the dinner are Nico Rosberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg, Valtteri Bottas, Max Verstappen, Daniil Kvyat, Esteban Gutierrez, Sergio Perez, Renault reserve driver Esteban Ocon, Marcus Ericson, Felipe Massa, Felipe Nasr, Carlos Sainz Jr., Pascal Wehrlein, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.
All that are missing are Kimi Raikkonen, Romain Grosjean, Renault drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer, Rio Haryanto and McLaren reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne.
At least defending champion Lewis Hamilton was in attendance this time.The Briton has previously been a notable absentee at the annual driver’s association dinner — as pointed out by former world champion Jenson Button at the 2013 gathering.
Thirteen-time grand prix winner David Coulthard said Formula 1 officials are in danger of having drivers “rise up against them” over recent changes to the sport.The Grand Prix Drivers Association last month penned an open letter attributed to Button and Vettel labelling technical and structural changes within the sport “disruptive”.
The letter slammed the sport’s decision-making process, highlighted by the unpopular new knock out qualifying system and the resulting failure to have it scrapped for the second race of the season in Bahrain.
“I feel like it probably highlights a little bit one of the dysfunctional aspects of Formula 1 where there’s a lack of respect,” Coulthard said.
“The driver’s voice adds the visual and physical representation of success and failure, should be listened to and should be relevant and shouldn’t be dismissed.
“If you are always trying to put people down, then what’s going to happen? You’ll either crush them or eventually they will rise up against you. So I would rather treat people with respect and allow them to have a voice, because they are the main visual part of why people turn up to watch Formula 1.”
Ecclestone responded to Button and Vettel’s letter, shifting the blame for the sport’s “obsolete and ill-structured” decision-making process.
“Dear Gentlemen, I am not sure if this is the right description,” he wrote in his own open letter.
“It is not always easy to agree with you but you are correct in stating that the decision making process in the sport is obsolete and ill structured.
“We must, as you have stated, urge the owners and all stakeholders of Formula 1 to consider restructuring its own governance.
“It is easy to analyse what is wrong so why not think and come back on this. At least it is better to think before you wish.
“I have been in Formula 1 for nearly 50 years in an active role and another 18 involved in some way. You state that every individual acts with the very best intentions. I am not sure if this is a misprint. If not, it should read, ‘with their very best intentions’.
“Best wishes, Bernie.