The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (commonly referred to as the "GPDA") is the trade union of Formula One drivers. Its chairman is Alexander Wurz, with George Russell and Sebastian Vettel serving as directors.[1]
It was initially founded on 11 May 1961, with the aim of improving safety standards. Stirling Moss was the original chairman, with Jo Bonnier taking over in 1963. It quite notably led to the boycotts of the 1969 Belgian Grand Prix and of the Nürburgring in 1970 and after 1976, as well as a drivers' strike at the 1982 South African Grand Prix. It disbanded in 1982, with the Professional Racing Drivers Association being formed in its place to represent all drivers, not just F1 drivers.
After the death of Roland Ratzenberger in qualifying for the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, the reformation of the Association was proposed. Ayrton Senna was to be appointed as a director, but tragically died in the race itself. The reformation was completed during the weekend of the following race, the Monaco Grand Prix, with Michael Schumacher appointed as chairman.
On 5 February 1996, the company was incorporated in the United Kingdom as a company limited by guarantee as Grand Prix Drivers Association Limited. Its directors at the time of founding were Schumacher, Gerhard Berger and Martin Brundle. The members meet at every F1 event.
Membership[]
Membership is not compulsory for F1 drivers. However, most do join. It costs £2,000 to join.
List of Chairmen[]
| Chairman | Years |
|---|---|
 Stirling Moss
|
1961–1963 |
 Jo Bonnier
|
1963–1971 |
| Jackie Stewart
|
1972–1978 |
 Jody Scheckter
|
1979–1980 |
 Didier Pironi
|
1980–1982 |
 Ayrton Senna
|
1994 |
 Michael Schumacher
|
1994–2005 |
| David Coulthard
|
2005–2006 |
| Ralf Schumacher
|
2006–2007 |
 Pedro de la Rosa
|
2008–2010 |
| Nick Heidfeld
|
2010 |
| Rubens Barrichello
|
2010–2011 |
| Pedro de la Rosa
|
2012–2014 |
 Alexander Wurz
|
2014–present |
List of Directors[]
Note: from 1996
| Director | Years | Stint as chairman |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Schumacher
|
1996–2005 | 1996–2005 |
| Gerhard Berger
|
1996 | |
| Martin Brundle
|
1996 | |
| Damon Hill
|
1996–1998 | |
| David Coulthard
|
1996–2006 | 2005–2006 |
| Alexander Wurz
|
1998–2001 2014–present |
2014–present |
 Jarno Trulli
|
2001–2006 | |
 Mark Webber
|
2003–2005 2006–2010 |
|
| Ralf Schumacher
|
2006–2007 | 2006–2007 |
| Fernando Alonso
|
2006–2010 | |
| Pedro de la Rosa
|
2008–2010 2012–2014 |
2008–2010 2012–2014 |
| Nick Heidfeld
|
2010 | 2010 |
| Felipe Massa
|
2010–2013 | |
| Sebastian Vettel
|
2010–present | |
| Rubens Barrichello
|
2010–2011 | 2010–2011 |
| Jenson Button
|
2013–2017 | |
| Romain Grosjean
|
2017–2020 | |
| George Russell
|
2021–present |
List of Company Secretaries[]
| Company | Years |
|---|---|
| Eps Secretaries Limited | 1996–2010 |
| Boodle Hatfield Secretarial Limited S L Secretaries Limited |
2010–present |
External links[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Noble, Jonathan (4 May 2017). "Romain Grosjean replaces Jenson Button as F1 GPDA director". Autosport.com. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/129308. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
| V T E | Grand Prix Drivers' Association | |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman Moss • Bonnier • Stewart • Scheckter • Pironi • Senna • M. Schumacher • Coulthard • R. Schumacher • De la Rosa • Heidfeld • Barrichello • Wurz | ||
| Directors M. Schumacher • Berger • Brundle • D. Hill • Coulthard • Wurz • Trulli • Webber • R. Schumacher • Alonso • De la Rosa • Heidfeld • Massa • Vettel • Barrichello • Button • Grosjean | ||
| Affected races 1969 Belgian Grand Prix • 1970 German Grand Prix • 1982 South African Grand Prix • 1994 San Marino Grand Prix | ||
| Related Professional Racing Drivers Assocation | ||