The Grand Prix Drivers Association – known as the GPDA – have announced on Sunday that Williams Racing driver Carlos Sainz has joined the organisation as a director.
It’s been a winter of change for Carlos Sainz after making the switch from Ferrari to Williams.
Hours after his final race for the Scuderia, Sainz was taking part in a filming day for his new team and then impressed during the post-season test in Abu Dhabi.
Sainz was impressed with what he saw in Abu Dhabi from Williams but will be hoping for a big step forward going into 2025.
Team principal James Vowles oversaw a campaign where Williams finished ninth in the constructors’ championship, but Sainz and Alex Albon joining forces should give the team an immediate boost.
The 30-year-old Sainz has now taken on an added responsibility going into 2025 by taking on the director role with the GPDA.
The Grand Prix Drivers Association made headlines last year when they released a statement on the FIA’s changing stance on swearing after Max Verstappen was penalised during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend.
George Russell fronted the GPDA’s statement as the current director and was outspoken on his and the rest of the grid’s views.
Russell was previously joined by Sebastian Vettel in that role, and although Vettel wanted to make an F1 comeback in 2025, he’s now stepped aside as the sport enters its third season without the four-time champion.
Sainz has stepped up in his place and Russell has sent his new co-director a message on Instagram following the announcement.
George Russell welcomes Carlos Sainz into new GPDA director role
A statement from the GPDA read: “The GPDA welcomes Carlos Sainz as Director.
“Stepping into the role vacated by Sebastian Vettel, Sainz becomes a Director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association alongside George Russell, Anastasia Fowle and Chairman, Alex Wurz.
“#RacingUnited for our Safety, our Sport, our Fans.”
In response to the post on Instagram, Russell sent a message to Sainz and said, ‘Welcome mate’, to which Sainz quickly thanked the Mercedes driver.
READ MORE: Williams driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height
Sainz’s response to joining the GPDA said: “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.
“So I’m very happy and proud to do my part by taking on the director’s role in the GPDA.”
Carlos Sainz and George Russell must resolve issue over FIA swearing rules
The GPDA discovered along with everyone else associated with Formula 1 that the FIA was making their swearing rules much more stringent going into 2025.
Fines had been increased, while drivers who are punished on several occasions could receive a one-race ban.
Haas rookie Oliver Bearman joked he can’t afford the FIA fines, while Yuki Tsunoda was outspoken about the issue during his F1 75 press conference.
READ MORE: Mercedes driver George Russell’s life outside F1 from net worth to height
Zak Brown praised Sainz’s takedown of the FIA’s swearing rules, with the Spaniard suggesting that drivers should be swearing in press conferences but their rules are ‘too tough’ when it comes to radio messages.
The FIA have already issued their first fine to Adrien Fourmax after he swore during a World Rally Championship interview, however, Dan Ticktum didn’t receive any punishment for swearing over his team radio during a recent Formula E race.
Sainz’s measured response to the issue suggests that he’ll make a good team with Russell and the rest of the grid will be relying on both of them as their relationship with the FIA continues to be tense.
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