Alexander Wurz provides an assessment of the health of Formula 1

At the dawn of a new season, Alexander Wurz, president of the Formula 1 Drivers’ Association, discusses key topics in the competition. A driver from 1997 to 2007, the Austrian has been presiding over the GPDA since 2014 and doesn’t really have any intention of stepping down.

F1 health assessment

According to him, the F1 is in great shape. « The F1 is as strong and healthy as it has ever been, at least as long as I have followed and known it », he declares in an interview with PlanetF1. The challenge today is to manage the challenges related to its increasing popularity. He criticizes the constant new rules and advocates for more thoughtful changes for the future.

Now, I hope that all stakeholders are aware that we need to carefully adjust the sport and its rules, and not feel the need to constantly do something. Indeed, intelligent and well-thought adjustments of the sporting and technical rules, weekend formats, means of delivering images and emotions, fan experiences, all require constant observation and thoughtful adjustments, but not just for fun, which was somewhat the culture of the last decade.

He congratulates the implementation of the budget cap, which puts the teams on an equal footing. The budget cap has helped to improve the affairs of Formula 1 and suddenly all the teams find themselves with a very significant amount. The era when European engineers spent without counting and when a large percentage of teams were at risk of not succeeding is over.

Expansion of the calendar

The calendar has never been as busy as the one in 2023. On this subject, Alexander Wurz says he’s ambivalent. The GPDA actually consulted NASCAR, the institution that organizes stock-car races in the United States, to inquire about their very busy schedule.

« First and foremost, the biggest challenge in getting Formula 1 to accept more races is obviously the mindset and culture of the fans and the paddock, hence the need for a certain amount of time and a smooth transition if we were to go in that direction. What is normal for NASCAR drivers, teams, and fans would be considered overcrowding in the current F1 world, explains Wurz.

If NASCAR is doing so well like this, the Austrian is afraid that this way of functioning may not appeal to F1 fans. He is also wary of driver exhaustion. However, we must, of course, ensure that the actors are not exhausted by too many races over the years, which drivers consider a concern, just as the public accepts more races. I see no danger for the sport if commercial interest leads the way to sustainable long-term models, which Liberty is doing with a good balance.

The future of Sebastian Vettel within the GPDA

The German driver retired on the sidelines of the 2022 season, but his departure from the GPDA has not yet been confirmed. We will make a decision about Vettel’s departure during the first part of the season, as we all wanted to give Seb time to reflect on his own future and possibly his continued participation in the GPDA. Therefore, I cannot answer the question of whether his position will become available, if other positions or roles might be freed up, and who could take his place.

On the contrary, when asked whether Vettel would be a good candidate to lead the association, Wurz is complimentary. « Certainly, Seb could do the job of president of the GPDA, as he has the greatest potential to be the head of many other organizations. In fact, if Seb is interested in something, he always does an excellent job. »

Indeed, Alexander Wurz keeps a very good memory of the moments spent with Sebastian Vettel in F1. I consider him as a good friend. F1 is lucky to have had him and I am certain that we will see him again in some capacity or role, even if it’s just as an observer and permanent ambassador of the sport. I’m sure he won’t mind if I add that he’s not always the fastest at responding to emails or messages! But he takes everything into account and handles information with precision and efficiency. He is simply an exceptional guy.