FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

Formula One drivers are threatening to boycott the British Grand Prix next month, according to reports. They claim the radical increase to the cost of their mandatory FIA superlicenses this year was unfair.

Previous to 2008, superlicences cost drivers just 1,690 euros plus 447 euros per point scored in the most recent world championship. But the World Motor Sport Council in January approved an increase in the cost of a superlicense to 10,000 euros, plus 2,000 euros per point.

It means that reigning World Champion Kimi Raikkonen's 2008 license cost 230,000 euros.

The German specialist magazine Auto Motor und Sport reports that the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) is requesting an urgent meeting with FIA president Max Mosley prior to the forthcoming Silverstone race.


If Mosley does not agree to lower the cost of their superlicenses, the drivers are reportedly prepared to strike.

An unnamed proponent of the threatened strike action said the FIA's fee increase is particularly harsh for drivers like Robert Kubica, the new championship leader.

"He is not yet earning an awful lot, but his license costs nearly a tenth of his income," the driver said.

[bud]

good on em! but what of the drivers that arent in the GPDA? i doubt they will be striking especially the ones in a title fight!

[Rob-F1]

If they strike I won't watch Formula 1 for some time... simple. It's not as though they aren't earning enough money as it is.

[Jensonb]

That hike is astronomical!

[texasmr2]

Yah that's one huge jump so maybe their team's will defer some of the cost?

[Rob-F1]

But why strike... at the grand prix I am attending! How dare they!

[McLaren Fan]

The hike is huge, but I think the drivers have a slight cheek on them to make out as though they can't afford to pay for the licence. Raikkonen's 2008 licence cost under £181,000 (around 356,00 USD), which is pocket money for him. Driver who score little or no points throughout the season would be paying something around £8,000 (about 15,000 USD), which also very little.

[texasmr2]

As far as Kimi is concerned he has spent more money on his toy's than the cost of his Super License so yah it should be a non-issue for him and the top money makers in F1.

[EwanM]

As far as Kimi is concerned he has spent more money on his toy's than the cost of his Super License so yah it should be a non-issue for him and the top money makers in F1.

Spent more money on booze more like.

[Jensonb]

I find the justification that "most of the money is spent making the sport safer, primarily for the drivers" to be distinctly crude and largely indefensible.

[7UpJordan]

I find the justification that "most of the money is spent making the sport safer, primarily for the drivers" to be distinctly crude and largely indefensible.

And probably an excuse from the mouth - or whip - of Mad Max himself. If the drivers boycott the British GP because of this, this will make Indy 2005 look tame, and even worse because I'll be there too like Rob said.

[EwanM]

I find the justification that "most of the money is spent making the sport safer, primarily for the drivers" to be distinctly crude and largely indefensible.

And probably an excuse from the mouth - or whip - of Mad Max himself. If the drivers boycott the British GP because of this, this will make Indy 2005 look tame, and even worse because I'll be there too like Rob said.

Me Three.

[McLaren Fan]

From itv-f1.com:

Fernando Alonso has labelled the increased in superlicence fees as "ridiculous" and says the Grand Prix Drivers' Association is discussing its response to the change.

Last year drivers had to pay €1,725 (£1,286) plus €456 (£340) per point scored in the previous year’s championship for the mandatory superlicence, but from this season that figure has risen to €10,000 (£7,452) plus €2,000 (£1,490) per point scored in 2007.

FIA president Max Mosley believes the change was necessary so that drivers were making an adequate contribution to funding safety improvements.

However GPDA director Alonso has hit out at the extent of the price hike.

"I think it is a ridiculous amount," he told reporters in Franace.

"We drivers should pay our superlicence at a reasonable price, that’s all.

"It cannot change by one thousand percent from one year to another."

There have been rumours in the Magny-Cours paddock that the drivers are considering strike action - a prospect that Alonso did not rule out.

"I think we have not many possibilities, but for sure it’s one of the things we are talking about in the GPDA," he said.

"Maybe we need to do something all together, because as a group we have much more [influence] than one single person."

But world champion Kimi Raikkonen believes strike action is unlikely.

"Of course it’s better if it’s not so expensive and it’s the same for everybody, but I don’t think there’s any reason to go on strike and not race," he said.

"I don‘t think that’s the right way to go but it would be nice if we could reduce it.

"It’s never going to happen that all the drivers will strike.

"Hopefully there is some nice solution that can be found at some point."

Alonso said he is not only pushing for a reduction from 2009, but for the sums already paid this year to be refunded.

"We need to find an agreement, for this year as well," he told ITV Sport's Ted Kravitz.

"What we paid already for 2008, maybe we need to have a refund or something, because it was something ridiculous.

"All the drivers agree about this, so hopefully we can put some efforts into that."

Championship leader Robert Kubica added that he was uncomfortable with the fact that drivers who scored fewer points had to pay a lower fee, as drivers' wages did not always match their scoring rate.

"It’s quite a lot of money, especially if you are scoring points like Lewis (Hamilton) did last year and it’s your first year in Formula 1," he said.

"But another point is that experienced drivers who don’t have a quick car are not scoring points, so they don’t care because they don’t have to pay.

"So I think it will be difficult to get all drivers to have the same idea but we are trying to convince the FIA to reduce the cost."

Kubica added that he was fully supportive of the FIA's safety initiatives and happy to help fund them, but just wanted to see an equal superlicence price for everyone on the grid.

"The FIA is saying that it goes to safety and I agree, safety is very important, so in the end, if the standard of safety can improve, we should pay for it," he said.

"My case last year and Heikki Kovalainen’s (accident) this year in Barcelona show that the FIA is making a great effort and doing a very good job in safety.

"But then I don’t see the point why some drivers have to pay more and some others not.

"In the end, we are all on the same track driving F1 cars."

[EwanM]

From itv-f1.com:

Fernando Alonso has labelled the increased in superlicence fees as "ridiculous" and says the Grand Prix Drivers' Association is discussing its response to the change.

Last year drivers had to pay €1,725 (£1,286) plus €456 (£340) per point scored in the previous year’s championship for the mandatory superlicence, but from this season that figure has risen to €10,000 (£7,452) plus €2,000 (£1,490) per point scored in 2007.

FIA president Max Mosley believes the change was necessary so that drivers were making an adequate contribution to funding safety improvements.

However GPDA director Alonso has hit out at the extent of the price hike.

"I think it is a ridiculous amount," he told reporters in Franace.

"We drivers should pay our superlicence at a reasonable price, that’s all.

"It cannot change by one thousand percent from one year to another."

There have been rumours in the Magny-Cours paddock that the drivers are considering strike action - a prospect that Alonso did not rule out.

"I think we have not many possibilities, but for sure it’s one of the things we are talking about in the GPDA," he said.

"Maybe we need to do something all together, because as a group we have much more [influence] than one single person."

But world champion Kimi Raikkonen believes strike action is unlikely.

"Of course it’s better if it’s not so expensive and it’s the same for everybody, but I don’t think there’s any reason to go on strike and not race," he said.

"I don‘t think that’s the right way to go but it would be nice if we could reduce it.

"It’s never going to happen that all the drivers will strike.

"Hopefully there is some nice solution that can be found at some point."

Alonso said he is not only pushing for a reduction from 2009, but for the sums already paid this year to be refunded.

"We need to find an agreement, for this year as well," he told ITV Sport's Ted Kravitz.

"What we paid already for 2008, maybe we need to have a refund or something, because it was something ridiculous.

"All the drivers agree about this, so hopefully we can put some efforts into that."

Championship leader Robert Kubica added that he was uncomfortable with the fact that drivers who scored fewer points had to pay a lower fee, as drivers' wages did not always match their scoring rate.

"It’s quite a lot of money, especially if you are scoring points like Lewis (Hamilton) did last year and it’s your first year in Formula 1," he said.

"But another point is that experienced drivers who don’t have a quick car are not scoring points, so they don’t care because they don’t have to pay.

"So I think it will be difficult to get all drivers to have the same idea but we are trying to convince the FIA to reduce the cost."

Kubica added that he was fully supportive of the FIA's safety initiatives and happy to help fund them, but just wanted to see an equal superlicence price for everyone on the grid.

"The FIA is saying that it goes to safety and I agree, safety is very important, so in the end, if the standard of safety can improve, we should pay for it," he said.

"My case last year and Heikki Kovalainen’s (accident) this year in Barcelona show that the FIA is making a great effort and doing a very good job in safety.

"But then I don’t see the point why some drivers have to pay more and some others not.

"In the end, we are all on the same track driving F1 cars."

Interesting point, I dunno whot side with on this... how much Money are these drivers making a year on sponsors and wt not?

[Rivelution]

Further proof that the FIA is bulls**t.