Carlos Sainz has been nominated as the new director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), replacing retired four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel.
Sainz’s fellow drivers on the F1 grid voted for him to take the position that Vettel, who concluded his illustrious career in the sport at the end of the 2022 season, has vacated.
The Spaniard has become a director among the organisation which has represented the drivers’ interests since 1994, when it was revived in response to two deaths at Imola.
Ex-F1 driver Alex Wurz has served as the GPDA’s Chairman since 2014, with two directors working alongside him to help improve several aspects within the series.
These have included Anastasia Fowle, who provides “business, political, legal and strategic advice” in a non-driving capacity.
Mercedes driver George Russell and Vettel had been the active drivers in director roles, but the German’s absence has seen Sainz, now in his 11th season in F1, take his place.
“I am passionate about my sport and think we drivers have a responsibility to do all we can to work with the stakeholders to forward the sport in many aspects,” he said.
“So I’m very happy and proud to do my part by taking on the director’s role in the GPDA.”
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