F1: GPDA statement 'not a knee-jerk' reaction - Wurz

Grand prix drivers were considering speaking out against the way Formula 1 is governed for "quite a while" according to GPDA chairman Alex Wurz (ABOVE).

While Wurz accepted the statement came as a result of hot debate over F1's direction, he dismissed suggestions the drivers had simply reacted to a controversial Australian Grand Prix weekend that featured the debut of an unpopular new qualifying format.

"Drivers are the real stars and protagonists of our sport and in response to some heated discussions by our fans and also inside the paddock, the drivers felt it is time to express their collective opinion," Wurz said. "This was not a knee-jerk reaction to the qualifying experiment.

"This statement was well-considered and planned between all drivers for quite a while now and discussed in Melbourne again during the special drivers' briefing the GPDA held. Since the GPDA's existence in the 1960s we operate by majority vote, which works very well.

"In this case, it was an extremely clear vote regarding the desire to express our opinion."

Wurz said the drivers believe F1 will not be able to achieve the changes they are calling for by continuing to make minor adjustments on and off-track.

"It is the majority opinion of the drivers, in order to make our sport fit for the future and next generations, the business model and the way F1 is run needs to be addressed and redefined, and followed by a clear road map or masterplan," he said. "We are not convinced that individual updates to sporting or technical rules are the solution.

"We believe every acting individual of the stakeholders wants the best for the sport. However, the process of how the stakeholders decide over the sport doesn't seem to work too well right now when one observes it from the outside."

Originally on Autosport.com