F1 drivers' letter to FIA slammed for missing 'serious issue' after outrage over Max Verstappen penalty

Sky F1 pundit and former driver Karun Chandhok has hit out against the GPDA following their open letter to the FIA.

The GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers Organisation) released a strongly worded statement on Thursday as all 20 F1 drivers united together to protest against the FIA.

The statement then targeted a number of issues including the recent penalty for Max Verstappen, after he was handed community service for describing his Red Bull car as 'f**ked.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was also fined €10,000 for saying 'f***k' when asked to describe how he felt avoiding a high-speed crash at the Mexican Grand Prix.

An extract from the full statement reads: "Further, our members are adults, they do not need to be given instructions via the media, about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewelry and underpants."

The main point raised by the GPDA, which is headed by George Russell, is that if the FIA are to individually fine drivers thousands of pounds, how these funds are used should be public.

The overall response to the letter has been extremely positive amongst the F1 community, however, F1 pundit Chandhok wasn't impressed by the drivers.

“The statement of solidarity was very strong. But in my view, there are more important things in Formula One. This thing about the cursing and the jewellery and underpants and all that…I’m not sure if that is really the most serious issue for drivers in F1?” He told GPblog.

Chandhok continued to stress the more important issues are those on track, with racing guidelines and regulations still very open for debate ahead of 2025.

“I think the most serious issue should be about the guidelines for racing, track limits, creating tracks with natural deterrents like gravel in key places and creating clear and fair rules for everybody to go racing that everyone understands," he continued.

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Karun Chandhok for Sky F1- Getty

"Those are much more important issues. So honestly, I really didn't pay much attention to this whole thing about the swearing and the underpants and the jewellery. These are not the biggest issues in our sport at the moment.”

It is important to note that the drivers have been vocal about new racing rules, with Russell stating that 19 out of the 20 drivers agree on what should change.

This came after the controversy surrounding the penalties handed out to both Verstappen and Lando Norris at the US and Mexican Grand Prix.