Russell: FIA's going in an ‘unstable direction’, refuses to listen to GPDA concerns

GPDA president Russell hit out at the current FIA governance, led by Ben Sulayem

George Russell wasn’t surprised to learn that FIA deputy president for sport Robert Reid had resigned from Formula 1’s governing body on Thursday over a “breakdown of governance standards”.

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The Mercedes driver, who is also a president of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, said that the FIA was “continuously going in an unstable direction”, and that concerns raised by drivers were falling on deaf ears.

“Every time we hear news from that side of the sport it's not really a big surprise,” he told reporters in Bahrain. “It’s a shame to see… for somebody who’s very well respected within the sport and has been there for so long. Hopefully we get more stability sooner than later.”

Reid, who had been the FIA’s second-in-command to president Mohammed Ben Sulayem since 2021, sent a letter to the drivers explaining his decision.

“We’re yet to talk with him because it was news to us this morning and was shared amongst the drivers,” Russell explained.

George Russell, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

“It’s getting to a point now where these things are happening so often, and as drivers we were trying to get involved in the past, but we didn't really make much headroom. Things seem to continuously be going in an unstable direction, so we're getting to a point now where our actions are having little impact with [the FIA],” he said in reference to the GPDA.

The drivers want a seat at the table, Russell said, but the FIA – under Ben Sulayem’s leadership – increasingly seems to be “going in their own direction”. In a statement announcing his decision earlier today, Reid said he had been alarmed by what he called "critical decisions being made without due process" over the past four years.

“When I took on this role, it was to serve the FIA’s members; not to serve power,” Reid wrote. “Over time, I have witnessed a steady erosion of the principles we promised to uphold. Decisions are being made behind closed doors, bypassing the very structures and people the FIA exists to represent.”

He went on: “My resignation is not about personalities; it is about principles. Motorsport deserves leadership that is accountable, transparent, and member-driven. I can no longer, in good faith, remain part of a system that does not reflect those values.”