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Williams driver Carlos Sainz has been named a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), stepping into a leadership position within the Formula 1 drivers’ body.
The 30-year-old Spaniard fills the vacancy left by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who stepped down from the role after retiring from F1 at the end of 2022.
Sainz, who moved from Ferrari to Williams for the 2025 season, expressed his enthusiasm for taking on the responsibility and working to shape the future of the sport alongside his fellow drivers.
“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,” Sainz stated.
“So I’m very happy and proud to do my part by taking on the directors’ role in the GPDA.”
With his appointment, Sainz joins an influential leadership group that includes GPDA chairman Alex Wurz, Mercedes driver George Russell, and legal advisor Anastasia Fowle.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali with GPDA Chairman Alex Wurz.
Wurz welcomed Sainz’s addition, emphasizing his long-standing involvement with the association.
“We are delighted to welcome Carlos as a GPDA director,” Wurz said.
“He has been an active and engaged member of the GPDA for several years and we sincerely appreciate his commitment in stepping up to this vital role.”
Navigating a Challenging Landscape
Sainz’s directorship comes at a time when the relationship between the drivers and the FIA is facing challenges.
Recent decisions by the governing body, particularly under its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, have raised concerns among drivers and other stakeholders.
One such point of contention is the FIA’s January decision to codify a process that could lead to race bans for drivers who use swear words.
The lack of clarity on how these rules will be implemented has further fueled unease.
Sainz has already publicly voiced his opinion on this matter, stating this month that it is wrong to threaten F1 drivers with bans for swearing, although he acknowledged that drivers should avoid bad language in news conferences and television interviews.
Another example of the tension between the GPDA and the FIA is the open letter the drivers’ association sent to the governing body in November, in which the drivers expressed their grievances towards Ben Sulayem.
The group’s statement, released after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, was unusually blunt.
It urged Ben Sulayem to “consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them,” and demanded transparency about the monetary fines imposed on drivers.
The backdrop to the letter was a string of controversial incidents. Max Verstappen was handed community service for swearing during the Singapore GP Thursday press conference, while Charles Leclerc received a €10,000 fine for also using the F-word in Mexico’s post-race presser.
The GPDA has yet to receive a formal response from the FIA, although Ben Sulayem suggested in no uncertain terms that it was “none of their business” how the Emirati runs the FIA.
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