Published 09:50 IST, November 29th 2024
'Who’s Getting Fired Next': George Russel Launches Scathing Attack On FIA As Key Personnel Leave
GPDA director George Russell launched a scathing attack on the FIA as several key people left the sport's governing body.
The Formula One governing body FIA and the drivers have been at odds against one another over the past few months due to several regulations that have been brought about. Things seemed to hit the roof when a swearing issue led to drivers protesting against the body. Amidst all of this turmoil, several key people from the FIA have left the sport. Following this the director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association and Mercedes Driver George Russell laid a scathing attack on the FIA.
George Russell Speaks Out Against The FIA As Director Of GPDA
George Russelll says Formula 1 drivers have a simple question for the sport’s governing body: which official will be “getting fired” next?
Russell is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, which represents the F1 drivers, and his comments continue a split between the drivers and the FIA over the rapid turnover of staff and other issues, like a push to punish drivers for swearing.
“Naturally in any organization if you’ve got people leaving or a change of personnel, it’s never going to be a stable environment and people have to learn the new rules,” Russelll said Thursday. “That’s very challenging for any team and it must be super challenging for everyone within the FIA right now. So we’d love to get a little bit of clarity and understanding of what’s going on and who’s getting fired next.”
Russelll’s comments followed a report by the BBC that two more officials — race steward Tim Mayer and the deputy race director for Formula 2, Janette Tan — had left suddenly. Tan’s departure means newly appointed F1 race director Rui Marques will also have to oversee the two scheduled F2 races this weekend in Qatar, the BBC said. Other senior FIA officials left various roles at the organization earlier this year.
Marques was only promoted this month to F1 race director from the F2 role as the FIA replaced his predecessor Niels Wittich this month in an unexpected move with three races remaining of the season.
“Just when we’ve asked for a bit of transparency and consistency we’re getting rid of two highly important people in the governing body, so it’s kind of gone in a full 360,” Russelll said. “We still don’t have any reasoning for Niels’ removal.”
Drivers Happy With New Race Director Rui Marques
Marques’ performance at last week’s Las Vegas Grand Prix was broadly praised by the drivers.
“I think it’s very, very difficult to judge whether that is too much or not,” Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc said when asked Thursday about Marques’ workload. “I guess he will be the first one to experience it. But the first race has gone really well, and he’s been super open-minded in listening to us drivers and doing things in the right way, and that was very positive.”
Earlier this month, the GPDA published a statement urging the FIA to treat drivers like adults and asking FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem to consider “his own tone and language”, following efforts during his tenure to enforce rules against swearing and jewellery more strictly.
(With AP Inputs)
Updated 09:51 IST, November 29th 2024