P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has claimed that the current crop of F1 drivers are “more united than ever” amid a period of contention with the FIA.
Since 2021, a British director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) has been involved in a vocal dispute with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The disagreement stemmed from incidents involving Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc being penalized for swearing during press conferences in Singapore and Mexico City, respectively. The FIA’s stricter enforcement of the International Sporting Code aimed to discourage the use of profanity by drivers, prompting criticisms from Ben Sulayem. This led to tensions between drivers like Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, fueling concerns about racial undertones in the FIA president’s comments. The GPDA issued a statement urging Ben Sulayem to reflect on his communication style, with Carlos Sainz joining as a director alongside the British representative. George Russell welcomed Sainz’s appointment, emphasizing the importance of having multiple driver directors and emphasizing unity among the drivers amidst ongoing off-track challenges.
