F1: Drivers have adequate say - Whiting

FIA Formula 1 race director Charlie Whiting feels the drivers have an "adequate" amount of forums at which to make their feelings known, despite recent dissatisfaction.

In the past the drivers have often complained the fact they have little say in the way F1 is run, and when they do speak out, their voices are often ignored. They have recently begun to make their feelings plain regarding a number of aspects of F1, last week via an open letter from the Grand Prix Drivers' Association complaining about the championship's "obsolete and ill-structured" governance.

Suggested to Whiting F1 and its rule-making process requires more input from the drivers, Whiting said: "I don't think it needs more, because they've got adequate.

"They've got many, many chances to talk about the rules with us. I honestly don't see how they could have much more. And of course, even at Formula 1 Commission level, there's nothing to stop a driver asking their team principal to put their point across, because all the teams are on that Commission. But by that time they have had lots of chances to give their view."

Whiting cited "technical and sporting working group meetings" as events "technical and sporting working group meeting" as events "to which a driver is always invited."

He added: "There is also a seat on the FIA Circuits Commission for a Formula 1 driver, but again attendance is not as high as one might like.

"They do get an opportunity every race weekend [via the drivers' briefing] to sit and discuss whatever they want to. We don't just talk about what's happened on the track today, they talk about all sorts of things. That's another perfect opportunity to discuss anything they wish.

"And I'm always happy to talk to them. We had a meeting in Barcelona [at the second pre-season test] and as you know, quite a few drivers actually turned up for it, which was nice."

Originally on Autosport.com