Legendary Formula One racer Sebastian Vettel is understood to have stepped back from his role as a director in the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA). The German racer announced his retirement from the sport at the end of the 2022 season. Despite staying out of the grid, Vettel remained associated with the GPDA, holding one of the director’s posts. He has now reportedly decided to leave the position but will continue to play a crucial role in the organisation, according to GPDA Chairman Alexander Wurz.
During a recent interaction with PlanetF1, Alexander Wurz said, “Sebastian has stepped back in his active director role. But he remains of course a key person in the GPDA and GPDA history. We are always happy when he joins our debates.”
The GPDA, which is the union for Formula One drivers, signed up all racers as members of the organisation in 2017. Among them, some have been promoted to the role of director. The candidates have been chosen by fellow drivers through a voting procedure. Sebastian Vettel has been one of the directors since 2010. At present, the other members of the panel are George Russell, lawyer Anastasia Fowle and Alexander Wurz.
With Sebastian Vettel set to leave, many might have thought someone would come to replace the four-time world champion. Earlier, Alexander Wurz had informed PlanetF1 that the GPDA would conduct a vote at the inaugural European race last season but ultimately that did not happen. The former Austrian driver has now revealed that the organisation will not rope in a new director following the exit of Vettel.
“The GPDA status foresees three directors. For most of the GPDA’s history, we had three directors and we are perfectly fine as we are. Given that every member has one vote and a director’s vote is the same as a member’s vote, having three or four directors does not influence the outcome,” Wurz told PlanetF1.
Sebastian Vettel recently hit the headlines as he was reportedly linked with a return to the racing circuit. He was tipped to join the Marcedes line-up, filling in the shoes of Lewis Hamilton, who will move to Ferrari in 2025. Team chief Toto Wolff, however, has already rubbished those claims, saying, “I think he made the decision to not race anymore.” Vettel hung up his boots as a Red Bull racer. The 36-year-old has also driven for Aston Martin and Ferrari during his illustrious career.
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