Photo: Mercedes-Benz Media
George Russell has revealed that drivers' confidence in the sport's governing body, the FIA, is dropping, causing them to feel 'fed up' with the current governance of Formula 1.
Since succeeding former Ferrari boss Jean Todt as president of the FIA in December 2021, Mohammed Ben Sulayem's reign has been troubled. He has clashed with F1's bosses and drivers.
Under his reign, the FIA has been embroiled in public scandals such as 'jewellery-gate,' with Ben Sulayem's support for Andretti Global and comments surrounding a potential sale of the sport to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in 2023 doing little to improve his popularity with the owner of the Formula One Group, Liberty Media.
But Ben Sulayem's latest crusade over drivers' use of vulgar language has dragged the FIA into its biggest public storm since the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and put the sport's governing body at odds with the Grand Prix Drivers Association.
On the Thursday before September's Singapore GP, Max Verstappen, said the f-word in the press conference when describing his Red Bull RB20 at the Azerbaijan GP. For this slip of the tongue, the triple world champion who could secure the title on Saturday night in Las Vegas would have to serve community service, much to the fury of the GPDA.
Verstappen took his revenge on the FIA after qualifying second behind eventual race winner Lando Norris. The Dutchman produced a Kimi Raikkonen-style performance by delivering a slew of one-word answers in the post-qualifying press conference before conducting an impromptu media session in the paddock.
Charles Leclerc was next to be punished for swearing, receiving a €10,000 fine for using the f-word following the post-race press conference in Mexico. The Monegasque's fine was the final straw for GPDA, which released a letter addressed to the FIA in the days following November's Sao Paulo GP.
The letter signed by all 20 drivers, the GPDA demanded the FIA treat them like adults and clarify where the money for fines dished out during race weekends was going. But the letter has fallen on deaf ears with the sport's governing body, who have yet to respond publicly to the GPDA at the time of writing.
"We recognise everybody's working as hard as they can to do the best job possible," said Russell in Wednesday night's FIA pre-race press conference ahead of Saturday night's Las Vegas GP. "There is 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 that we've wanted implemented.
"Of course, everyone has their own side to their own story. But as I said, I think if we feel that we're being listened to and some of the changes that we are experiencing, requesting, are implemented, because ultimately we're only doing it for the benefit of the sport, then maybe our confidence will increase. But yeah, I think there's a number of drivers who feel probably a bit fed up with the whole situation. And it only seems to be going in, to a degree, the wrong direction."
In the days following an incredible race at Interlagos, the FIA released a statement announcing that F1's race director, Niels Wittich, had stepped down from his position. The German had been appointed joint-race director along with Eduardo Freitas in 2022 following the firing of Michael Masi in the wake of the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi GP.
Following Freitas' return to the World Endurance Championship in 2023, Wittich became the sole race director before his dismissal. He later clarified to German-speaking publication Motorsport-Magazin.com that he hadn't stepped down but had been relieved of his duties.
Rui Marques, the race director for Formula 2 and Formula 3, will succeed Wittich for the remainder of the 2024 season.
"Yeah, we definitely weren't aware," said Russell when asked whether the FIA informed them about Wittich's exit. "It was a bit of a surprise, I think, for everybody. And, you know, it's a hell of a lot of pressure now onto the new race director. Just three races left.
"Often, as drivers, we probably feel like we're the last to find out this sort of information. And when it involves us kind of directly, it would be nice to be kept in the loop and just have an understanding of what decisions are being made. So, yeah, time will tell. I'm sure the new guy will handle the position just fine, but definitely not an easy race for a new race director."
Wittich's departure continues a pattern of high-profile figures leaving the FIA under Ben Sulayem's leadership.
Days after Wittich's mysterious exit, Paolo Basari was next to leave the organisation. The Italian according to sources close to BBC Sport had lost Ben Sulayem's confidence after he pushed back on his requests.
The loss of these two key figures continues a pattern of key figures leaving the FIA over the past 12 months.
FIA's sporting director, Steve Nielsen, and the head of the commission for women, Deborah Mayer, left their respective positions in December 2023. Single-seater technical director Tim Goss was next to depart the organisation in January to take up a role at RB.
The FIA's first CEO, Natalie Robyn, left her position in May after serving 18 months. Director of Communications Luke Skipper and Secretary General of Mobility Jacob Bangsgaard also left in October.
Under his reign, the FIA has been embroiled in public scandals such as 'jewellery-gate,' with Ben Sulayem's support for Andretti Global and comments surrounding a potential sale of the sport to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in 2023 doing little to improve his popularity with the owner of the Formula One Group, Liberty Media.
But Ben Sulayem's latest crusade over drivers' use of vulgar language has dragged the FIA into its biggest public storm since the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and put the sport's governing body at odds with the Grand Prix Drivers Association.
On the Thursday before September's Singapore GP, Max Verstappen, said the f-word in the press conference when describing his Red Bull RB20 at the Azerbaijan GP. For this slip of the tongue, the triple world champion who could secure the title on Saturday night in Las Vegas would have to serve community service, much to the fury of the GPDA.
Verstappen took his revenge on the FIA after qualifying second behind eventual race winner Lando Norris. The Dutchman produced a Kimi Raikkonen-style performance by delivering a slew of one-word answers in the post-qualifying press conference before conducting an impromptu media session in the paddock.
Charles Leclerc was next to be punished for swearing, receiving a €10,000 fine for using the f-word following the post-race press conference in Mexico. The Monegasque's fine was the final straw for GPDA, which released a letter addressed to the FIA in the days following November's Sao Paulo GP.
The letter signed by all 20 drivers, the GPDA demanded the FIA treat them like adults and clarify where the money for fines dished out during race weekends was going. But the letter has fallen on deaf ears with the sport's governing body, who have yet to respond publicly to the GPDA at the time of writing.
"We recognise everybody's working as hard as they can to do the best job possible," said Russell in Wednesday night's FIA pre-race press conference ahead of Saturday night's Las Vegas GP. "There is 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 that we've wanted implemented.
"Of course, everyone has their own side to their own story. But as I said, I think if we feel that we're being listened to and some of the changes that we are experiencing, requesting, are implemented, because ultimately we're only doing it for the benefit of the sport, then maybe our confidence will increase. But yeah, I think there's a number of drivers who feel probably a bit fed up with the whole situation. And it only seems to be going in, to a degree, the wrong direction."
Drivers blindsided by Wittich's shock firing
While the drivers' fight to be heard continues, the FIA has seen two key staff members leave the organisation between Brazil and Las Vegas.In the days following an incredible race at Interlagos, the FIA released a statement announcing that F1's race director, Niels Wittich, had stepped down from his position. The German had been appointed joint-race director along with Eduardo Freitas in 2022 following the firing of Michael Masi in the wake of the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi GP.
Following Freitas' return to the World Endurance Championship in 2023, Wittich became the sole race director before his dismissal. He later clarified to German-speaking publication Motorsport-Magazin.com that he hadn't stepped down but had been relieved of his duties.
Rui Marques, the race director for Formula 2 and Formula 3, will succeed Wittich for the remainder of the 2024 season.
"Yeah, we definitely weren't aware," said Russell when asked whether the FIA informed them about Wittich's exit. "It was a bit of a surprise, I think, for everybody. And, you know, it's a hell of a lot of pressure now onto the new race director. Just three races left.
"Often, as drivers, we probably feel like we're the last to find out this sort of information. And when it involves us kind of directly, it would be nice to be kept in the loop and just have an understanding of what decisions are being made. So, yeah, time will tell. I'm sure the new guy will handle the position just fine, but definitely not an easy race for a new race director."
Wittich's departure continues a pattern of high-profile figures leaving the FIA under Ben Sulayem's leadership.
Days after Wittich's mysterious exit, Paolo Basari was next to leave the organisation. The Italian according to sources close to BBC Sport had lost Ben Sulayem's confidence after he pushed back on his requests.
The loss of these two key figures continues a pattern of key figures leaving the FIA over the past 12 months.
FIA's sporting director, Steve Nielsen, and the head of the commission for women, Deborah Mayer, left their respective positions in December 2023. Single-seater technical director Tim Goss was next to depart the organisation in January to take up a role at RB.
The FIA's first CEO, Natalie Robyn, left her position in May after serving 18 months. Director of Communications Luke Skipper and Secretary General of Mobility Jacob Bangsgaard also left in October.
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