Grand Prix Drivers' Association
The Grand Prix Drivers 'Association (GPDA) is the Formula 1 drivers' association founded in 1961 and reactivated in 1994. The GPDA is also referred to in the press as the drivers' union .
history
The GPDA was founded in 1961 and was initially active until the 1982 season . In addition to maintaining and improving safety standards on the racetracks , she was also responsible for representing the economic interests of the drivers. This led to a boycott of the Grand Prix of Spa-Francorchamps in the 1969 season and the race at the Nurburgring in the 1970 season and after the race from 1976 .
The GPDA was brought back to life by Formula 1 drivers after the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 , but this time exclusively to increase the safety standards of vehicles and racetracks. The reason for this was the fatal accidents involving Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger , the serious accident involving Rubens Barrichello , the collision between Pedro Lamy and JJ Lehto (six injured spectators) and the pit lane incident involving Michele Alboreto . The latter lost a bike that injured five mechanics from other teams. Improvised measures, such as a chicane made of stacks of tires at the Spanish Grand Prix and the Canadian Grand Prix , tried to make the rest of the year safer.
On February 5, 1996, the Grand Prix Drivers Association Ltd. was established in Great Britain . Founded as a private company limited by guarantee (similar to the German non-profit GmbH ).
Membership and leadership of the GPDA
Membership in the GPDA is not compulsory for Formula 1 racing drivers. Since it was re-established in 1994, the majority of drivers have been active in the GPDA, the other drivers are often criticized for their attitude.
The members of the GPDA elect their chairman, there are three directors, one racing driver is the president and two other racing drivers are the chairmen. The current President of the GPDA has been Alexander Wurz since October 2014 . Its two representatives are Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean .
President of the GPDA
| Period | driver | team |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-2005 |
 Michael sSchumacher
|
Benetton , from 1996: Ferrari |
| 2005-2006 |
 David Coulthard
|
Red Bull |
| 2006-2008 |
Ralf Schumacher
|
Toyota |
| 2008-2010 |
 Pedro de la Rosa
|
McLaren |
| March – August 2010 |
Nick Heidfeld
|
Mercedes |
| August 2010–2011 |
 Rubens Barrichello
|
Williams |
| 2012-2014 |
Pedro de la Rosa
|
HRT , from 2013: Ferrari |
| since October 2014 |
 Alexander Wurz
|
Individual evidence
- ^ Heidfeld is the new head of the drivers' union , article Focus Online, accessed on May 17, 2010.
- ↑ a b GPDA: Working tirelessly for safety. Motorsport-Total.com, November 19, 2011, accessed April 23, 2012 .
- ^ British Commercial Register, Company No. 03157191 , accessed May 4, 2010.
- ↑ Ricciardo: How drivers influence safety. Motorsport-Total.com, October 27, 2011, accessed April 23, 2012 .
- ^ Formula 1 - Barrichello new GPDA President , article Motorsport-Magazin.com, accessed on August 28, 2010.
- ^ "De la Rosa new head of the drivers' union" (Motorsport-Total.com on March 5, 2012)
- ↑ "Root new GPDA Chairman" , article Motorsport-Magazin.com, accessed on October 3, 2014.