Mercedes driver George Russell has voiced frustration among F1 drivers over FIA leadership which seems to be going “in the wrong direction” under President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
As tensions rise within F1’s governing body, Russell’s remarks come in light of a recent public statement from the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) that called for more respect and transparency from the FIA.
In a candid assessment, George Russell, who doubles as the GPDA director stated that many F1 drivers are “a bit fed up” with the current state of affairs, highlighting a growing discontent that has been brewing over several months.
The backdrop to the discontent includes a series of controversial decisions made by FIA leadership notably the sudden dismissal of race director Niels Wittich just three races before the conclusion of the season.
Russell expressed surprise at this decision, noting that many drivers were unaware of Wittich’s removal until it was publicly announced. The lack of communication has contributed to a feeling among drivers that they are often the last to know about significant changes that directly affect their careers and safety on track.
“We definitely weren’t aware, it was a bit of a surprise for everybody,” he said. “It’s a hell of a lot of pressure now onto the race director, just three races left.
“We probably feel like we’re the last to find out this sort of information. When it involves us directly it would be nice to sort of be kept in the loop and have an understanding for what decisions are being made.
“Time will tell. I’m sure the new guy will handle the position just fine. Definitely not an easy race for a new race director.”
Asked what level of confidence the drivers have in FIA leadership at the moment, he said: “I’m not too sure to be honest. We recognise that everybody is working as hard as they can to do the best job possible.
“There’s obviously a huge amount of change within the FIA quite regularly. So it’s clearly not the most stable of places and maybe that’s why it’s been a bit challenging to get some of the changes we’ve wanted implemented.
“Everyone has their own side to the story, but I think if we feel we’re being listened to, and some of the changes we’re requesting are implemented, because ultimately we’re only doing it for the benefit of the sport, then maybe our confidence will increase.
“I think a number of drivers are probably a bit fed up of the situation and it only seems to be going to a degree in the wrong direction.”
George Russell also claimed that while it is relatively easy to arrange meetings with Ben Sulayem, translating those discussions into meaningful action has proven to be a different challenge altogether.
“Definitely not difficult to get a sit down, but getting things to change or promises upheld seems slightly more challenging,” Russell said. “Maybe the FIA or president didn’t recognise how seriously we all felt.
“So I think that’s why over the course of 20 races this year and also even last year we spoke about a number of topics, all of the drivers, we all feel pretty similar.
“We all know what we want from the sport and the direction it’s been heading, we probably feel we want to do a small U-turn on a number of topics.
“We just want to work together with the FIA leadership on this, that’s what we’ve felt has not been happening at all, at least directly from the president.”
The GPDA’s recent letter to the FIA was unprecedented in its scope, representing a united front from all 20 F1 drivers since 2017. The letter criticized Ben Sulayem for his tone and approach, particularly following an incident involving Max Verstappen, who faced penalties for using profanity during a press conference.
The drivers expressed their desire to be treated as professionals rather than children, underscoring a need for mutual respect in their interactions with FIA leadership. Russell articulated that this public declaration was necessary to apply pressure on the FIA and to ensure that their concerns were taken seriously.
One of the key issues raised in the GPDA letter pertains to the management of fines imposed on drivers. The FIA has recently increased the maximum fines that can be levied against F1 drivers, which has raised concerns about fairness and accountability within the sport.
George Russell called for transparency regarding how these funds are allocated and asked whether they are reinvested into initiatives that benefit grassroots racing or improve safety standards.
“When we were hearing from the FIA leadership elections a couple of years ago, [around] the , they were talking about transparency, where the money was going to be reinvested, the grassroots racing, which we’re all in favour of,” Russell said.
“When it comes to these large fines, there’s a number of drivers on the grid who can comfortably afford these fines. But there are maybe some rookies on the grid, if they’re handed a one-million dollar fine, they can’t afford it.
“If we know where that’s been reinvested and it’s going into grassroots or some training programmes, then we would understand…as I said, we just want the transparency and what was promised from the beginning.”
George Russell’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among his peers that they want to work collaboratively with the FIA to improve the sport rather than merely comply with regulations without input.
Adding to this atmosphere of discontent is the instability within the FIA itself. The organization has seen several high-profile departures this year, including Wittich’s exit and that of compliance officer Paolo Basari.
This turnover has contributed to an environment where drivers feel uncertain about their representation and advocacy within Formula 1.
Russell noted that while some drivers have expressed dissatisfaction with specific decisions made by Wittich during his tenure, they also believe in collaboration as a means of improvement rather than simply replacing individuals in key roles.
“Just hiring and firing is not the solution,” he said. “Every time there’s a change, you have to take one step back before you make two steps forward.”
The relationship between F1 drivers and the FIA has historically been characterized by collaboration and open communication, particularly during the era of former race director Charlie Whiting.
Whiting was known for his approachable demeanor and willingness to listen to driver concerns. In contrast, many current drivers feel there is an increasing divide between them and FIA leadership under Ben Sulayem.
“As F1 drivers he was someone we felt really connected to,” said Haas driver Kevin Magnussen. “It always felt like we were being listened to. Now it seems like a lot of us are against them.
“There should definitely be more cooperation and closer connection between us and them because we can help each other a lot.”
As Formula 1 heads into its final races of the season including this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix the FIA is yet to respond to the drivers plight.
