Comments on: Massa Joins Raikkonen, Hamilton & Sutil By Leaving GPDA

By: Brendan

Brendan — Sat, 10 May 2008 01:28:00 +0000

“David Coulthard and Mark Webber, who fervently believe the safety aspect of the sport should be continuously improved”

I’d want better safety too, if I was driving an RB4 . Kidding, kidding.

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:46:48 +0000

Hehe, yeah, Lady Snowcat suggested PDLR was voted in while he was with his wife at the hospital as she gave birth to their third daughter. Cheeky little bounders, those F1 drivers are!

That does make sense (I forgot that PDLR was a reserve driver, which is a bit different to a test driver). Indeed, Davidson and Sato are unlikely to get a refund on their £2000 admission fee, but right now I think they have more pressing matters on their minds, like future employment.

By: Alianora La Canta

Alianora La Canta — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:37:24 +0000

I believe reserve drivers are allowed to join the GPDA on the same terms as the race drivers. After all, they too benefit from many of the measures, such as improved safety in tests. However, I don’t think Pedro’s experience was the reason for his becoming chairman so much as nobody else could be found who was willing to take on the responsibility.

Davidson and Sato technically have no positions at all in current F1 teams, so I would have thought they were ineligible. However, since they’ve probably paid their fees for the year already, I can’t see anyone complaining if they continue to turn up for meetings or do other things to help the GPDA.

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:51:43 +0000

Just noticed, the title of this post is a little mis-leading. Hamilton and Sutil have never been members of the GPDA as far as I'm aware, although I'm not sure about Raikkonen. Either way Massa is following the others in the sense that he is not a member of the GPDA. Great comment Alianora. Isn't Pedro De La Rosa a member of the GPDA? Therefore, I would have to suggest that they allow test drivers to be involved. Or maybe it is because PDLR has driven in a fair few races and is considered with relative 'authoritiveness'. ...Therefore, going along those lines, Davidson and Sato might still be involved. Although what they would benefit from it right now is questionable. Edit: GPDA Wiki. PDLR is the chairman, but possibly because he is experienced in racing, although not actually currently racing.

By: Alianora La Canta

Alianora La Canta — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:09:41 +0000

The thing is that the GPDA needs to have the majority of F1 drivers in it, otherwise its power (which is based on conveying the opinion of the drivers as a group) is greatly diminished. As a director of the GPDA, Jarno is right to be concerned at the falling membership. With Sato and Davidson not technically eligible at the moment, there are now only sixteen members of the group. Massa’s move also means Ferrari is not represented at the GPDA at all. With Bernie and Max openly favouring Ferrari, any organisation that does not clearly represent Ferrari’s interests is at a serious political disadvantage.

The decision to be part of the GPDA may be down to personal choice, but somehow the drivers have got to convey their interests or else they will be ignored. Since Hamilton, Sutil, Raikkonen and Massa haven’t found a way of doing so between them, so a healthy GPDA remains in the drivers’ self-interest – even those who choose to be independent of it.