Verstappen Not Happy With Too Many Rules And Politics: 'I Would Like To Be Owner Of F1'

Friday, 10 November 2023 at 19:00

Updated at Friday, 10 November 2023 at 20:12

Red Bull Racing F1 driver Max Verstappen recently said he would like the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) to have a more significant say.

F1 keeps introducing new rules to the sport to make it more safe for the drivers and interesting for the fans at the same time. However, these rules are not always appreciated by drivers and their teams.

Some of the most recent examples include the introduction and modification of sprint weekends (for the fans) or the introduction of new rules allowing cars to be stationary at the pit exit in the last race (for safety),

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The sprint weekends have been appreciated by some drivers like Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc but also disliked by Max Verstappen, for example.

Unfortunately, the drivers don't have a formal say when it comes to deciding about rules even though they have the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA). Verstappen told the media according to Total Motorsport:

"Sometimes it has too many rules that they have to take into account. And too many politics as well to make a change or a decision. Of course, I would like the GPDA to have a say. I would like to be the owner of F1 if I could, but that’s not the real world."

It seems like a fair thing to give drivers a say regarding the rules that influence their sport. Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez said:

"I think would be nicer if the GPDA could have a little bit more influence. Because the GDPA is not just a single driver, it’s the majority of us."

Drivers have been dissatisfied with a few problems over the last few years for example inconsistent track limit penalties. However, they can't do anything unless FIA or F1 decides to change something.