The drivers are always the centerpiece of F1. The amount of risk every driver takes to entertain racing fans globally is immense. Yet, F1 often does not consider their opinions as important for major reforms. There is a Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) that involves all drivers to represent their points of view to F1 and the FIA. Although in recent years, the influence of this GPDA has been going down in the sport. Recently, Lewis Hamilton has demanded that the drivers should be given more influence in the sport.

Upon this, former F1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart has also backed the Mercedes driver to raise his voice with fellow drivers on this issue. Stewart had formerly been the President of the GPDA, which was formed in 1961. He raised his concerns about how drivers today are not having as much power as he and his driver-mates had back in the day.

Talking exclusively to Express Sport, Stewart said, “I was the President of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association when the GPDA was much more powerful than it is today, by the way.”

The 3-time champion stated how drivers should have more say in several changes that happen in the sport. He added, “I think that’s wrong. I think we [drivers] should have more influence [in F1].” Lewis Hamilton will hope to change the balance of power the GPDA shares with F1’s top management.

GPDA – What Is the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, Consisting of Vettel and Russell?

The retiring Sebastian Vettel was the Director of the GPDA since 2010. Currently, George Russell is one of the Directors of the 61-year-old association. The GPDA has been actively influencing several decisions and had some controversies too.

Can Lewis Hamilton and Co. be as “Powerful” as Former Veteran drivers in GPDA were?

Some of the notable moves from the GPDA were in the 70s and 80s before they disbanded. The 1982 South African GP saw an infamous strike by the drivers owing to a super license rule change. Apparently, the drivers’ contracts had an additional clause included that how they will drive exclusively for their teams in F1.

This caused the GPDA to go on strike ahead of the 1982 season-opening race in Kyalami. The drivers mainly, Ferrari’s Didier Pironi and Gilles Villeneuve and McLaren’s Niki Lauda, were the key protestors against this super license clause. While they objected, several drivers involved in the strike were given fines and race bans.

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Eventually, the clause got removed from drivers’ contracts to restore the status quo. While the FIA Court of Appeal also reduced the fine and the length of race bans for the drivers.

Besides this major incident; the GPDA was influential in removing the Nurburgring track from the calendar after 1976. The 1976 race at the Nordschleife saw the horrendous, nearly fatal accident of Niki Lauda.

Lewis Hamilton and his fellow drivers need to find a similar influence to restore the balance of power for the drivers.

WATCH THIS STORY: Lewis Hamilton and Co. gather for Sebastian Vettel’s Last Supper

In the present day, there is a low chance of drivers going on a strike, if some major issue occurs with F1 and the FIA. While the sport has evolved a lot in terms of structures, safety reforms, and technology, the drivers and the GPDA should remain an integral part of the system. Let us know your thoughts on the GPDA’s role in F1.