Lando Norris has offered insight into how his voice may now be a little stronger in terms of influence in certain circles in Formula 1, now he is a World Champion.
Norris won his maiden Drivers’ title last year after a titanic battle with teammate Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen.
Now in his seventh season of F1 racing, Norris can be very much viewed as more of one of the ‘establishment’ in terms of his experience, and new status as a champion.
This also means a possible extra swing when it comes to the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, but insists it speaks for the whole grid, not a select few.
The GDPA was created back in 1994 as a union for the drivers to discuss issues that affect them within the sport. Over the years, it’s played a vital role in the drivers’ relationship with the governing body.
“I mean, the GPDA is obviously represented by a few drivers, but the input that they put in is our input as drivers,” Norris told the media.
“So it’s not that they just decide what they want to decide; they decide what we decide as a collection of drivers.”
George Russell and Carlos Sainz are currently the GPDA’s driver directors, with former F1 driver Alex Wurz as chairman. Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, and Fernando Alonso have all served as directors in the past.
More influence than before
Norris holds no formal role, but he believes his title has changed how his views are received.
“Obviously, I’m part of that, and maybe people listen to my voice more now than previously, and that’s something that just comes with, I guess, the credit of winning the world championship.
“But it’s not something I think you expect, but it is just respect, I think, at the end of the day, and that’s a cool thing to earn through your career, but the GPDA is everyone.
“So it’s not just me, but of course, if I have input, my input is just as valuable.”
The current World Champion added that his priorities are drivers and fans, not the rulebook.
“I still want the best for the sport. I’m never biased. I would say anything I do, I do for what I want the sport to be.
“I’m biased towards drivers and fans more than rules and things like that.”
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