Almost all the F1 drivers met on Wednesday for dinner ahead of the weekend's Chinese GP. In a strong statement after Formula 1 boss, Bernie Ecclestone’s condescending response to concerns raised by senior drivers, all the pros in the sport joined in a show of unity.
Utilizing the hashtag #RacingUnited or using Bernie words #windbagsunited, most of the drivers took to their own Twitter account to upload an image of the selfie. The Grand Prix Drivers Association were also not left behind in tweeting about the event and even more than one auto racing betting sites retweeted the image.
The GPDA had issued a correspondence to the heads of Formula-1 announcing their aversion with the direction of the sport at the beginning of the season. However, Bernie Ecclestone's response to the mail was that the drivers were nothing but windbags.
The 18 drivers spotted at the dinner were Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Fernando Alonso, Nico Rosberg, Felipe Nasr, Sebastian Vettel, Felipe Massa, Nico Hulkenberg, Jenson Button, Max Verstappen, Esteban Ocon, Daniil Kvyat, Esteban Gutierrez, Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez, Pascal Wehrlein and Renault reserve driver Marcus Ericson.
Those who missed the dinner were Renault driver Kevin Magnussen Kimi Raikkonen, Rio Haryanto, Romain Grosjean, Jolyon Palmer and Stoffel Vandoorne and McLaren reserve driver.
At least the defending champion Lewis Hamilton did not miss out this time round. This came as a surprise since as noted by former world champion Button in 2013, Hamilton is known for his absence at the annual drivers’ association dinners.
David Coulthard, the 13-time Grand Prix winner, stated that the Formula 1 officials are in danger of drivers revolting against them because of the recent changes to the sport. Last month, the GPDA wrote an open letter attributed to Vettel and Button labelling structural and technical adjustments within Formula – 1 disruptive.
The letter hurled the sports process of decision making, highlighting the infamous recent knock-out qualification system and the failure to have it done away for in the second race in Bahrain.
Coulthard said that he felt that it probably highlighted one of the dysfunctional aspects of the sport where there is lack of respect.
The voices of the drivers add the physical and visual representation of failure and success. Therefore, it should be listened to, should not be dismissed and should always be relevant.
If you continually put people down then what’s going to happen? They will either raise up against you, or you will crush them.
So I’d rather allow people to have a voice and treat them with respect since they are the main reason as to why large masses turn up to watch Formula-1.
Ecclestone responded to Vettel's and Buttons letter blaming the sports ill-structured and obsolete decision-making process.
Dear Gentlemen, I am uncertain if it is the correct description he jotted down in his own letter.
It is not my norm to agree with you but this time, I do. I think you are correct in stating that the process of decision making in Formula-1 is ill-structured and obsolete.
We must as you have pointed out urge the stakeholders and owners of F-1 to consider restructuring its governance.
It is easy to analyse the problem so why not give it a deeper taught and come back on it since it's better to think than to wish.
I have been in F-1 for nearly five decades in an active role and 18 years involved in one way or another. You suggest that every person acts with the best intentions. I am not certain if this is a misprint. If it is not, it should say with their very best intentions.
Best, Wishes, Bernie
