Grand Prix Drivers' Association

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The Grand Prix Drivers' Association or GPDA is effectively the "union" of Formula One drivers.

1 History
2 Membership and Leadership
3 Current issues
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

The GPDA was founded in 1961 and was active during the 1960s and 1970s. Then, as now, the GPDA's primary objective was to improve and maintain safety standards. This led to boycotts of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in 1969 and the Nürburgring in 1970 and after 1976.

The organisation was disbanded during the 1982 Formula One season due to the effects of the changing commercial organisation of F1 and the conflicts between FOCA and FIA.

The GPDA was reformed over the weekend of the 1994 Monaco Grand Prix, following the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, as well as the serious accident of Rubens Barrichello, at the San Marino Grand Prix two weeks earlier.

[edit] Membership and Leadership

Membership of GPDA is not compulsory. Despite this, until recently all drivers were members. Jacques Villeneuve resigned from the association in a meeting directly following the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix. Joining the GPDA costs £2,000.^[1]

The members vote to decide their leaders. Currently there are three directors of GPDA, one of whom is the chairman. Pedro de la Rosa is the chairman ^[2] and Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso are the other directors.^[3]

[edit] Current issues

During the 2005 season the GPDA became increasingly involved in the politics (and controversy) of Formula One.

Following the United States Grand Prix the GPDA issued a statement supporting the case of the Michelin teams in the FIA World Motorsport Council. Significantly, though the majority of drivers signed the statement, Michael Schumacher did not. He claimed that he was not asked to, but would not have done so anyway. The statement claimed that the FIA's proposed solutions to the problems experienced by the Michelin teams were unworkable. Schumacher claimed the problems at Indianapolis were technical rather than a safety issue.

A meeting between the GPDA and FIA president Max Mosley, scheduled for the British Grand Prix, was cancelled by Mosley due to statements made by David Coulthard. Mosley claimed Coulthard's statements to the media were a "distortion" of the purpose of the meeting and accused him of stirring up dissent. In retaliation the GPDA released a letter that had been sent to Mosley accusing him of jeopardising the GPDA's drive for improved safety:

“We were also concerned to learn that during the course of [a telephone conversation with Coulthard], you suggested the FIA might withdraw support for the ongoing safety initiatives of the GPDA... The GPDA believes that safety issues are of the highest importance and are disappointed not to receive the full support of the FIA president in this matter".^[^{citation needed]}