Coulthard criticises Barrichello and Rosberg

[Bram Turismo]

Nov.21 (GMM) David Coulthard has attacked F1 rivals Rubens Barrichello and Nico Rosberg for refusing to be nominated as directors for the recent Grand Prix Drivers' Association election.

With the Scot wanting to step down as chairman after more than a decade in the role, and the retirement of fellow 'GPDA' director Michael Schumacher, the safety-oriented body in late September voted in Fernando Alonso, Ralf Schumacher and Mark Webber.

But Coulthard, 35, criticised drivers including Honda's Barrichello and Williams driver Rosberg for 'just taking' from their sport.

"Michael has taken a lot (from F1), but he's given a lot too," he told the British monthly F1 Racing. "I've taken less, and given less, but I've certainly given."

Coulthard, who races for Red Bull, continued: "There are others who just take. An example is Rubens. I've raced against him for years and years, and he's a nice guy, and talented, but he just turns up, does his race and buggers off."

Coulthard said he also approached 21-year-old Rosberg about the directorship, but he revealed that the German rookie simply answered: 'No way!'

Coulthard added: "(The GPDA) is the only route via which they can influence their sport and yet they don't seem to want to know.

"I just can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to be active in the only forum via which he can increase the likelihood of his going home safe and sound at the end of a day spent caning one of the 22 fastest cars in the world around a race track.

"So when someone like Nico says he isn't ready, well, that's bollocks," Coulthard said.

Some hard words there...

 

[<_Spike_>]

Ah and just when they said the contraversial talk from drivers would dissapear when Schumi left. A tad uncalled for by the Scot I feel, needs to learn that not everyone in a drivers seat wants to be involved in every itty bitty little part, for him to expect them too, especially a rookie, is...well...bollocks

 

[tigermoth737]

Coultherd is such a spaz, did he think that Rubens and Nico simply thought that the sport is safe as it is. I dont think so. The GPDA to Nico and Rubens, is basicly what a debating team at school is to me: a waste of time, all you want to do is do your work, get through the day without any crap and then going home and relaxing, not wanting to bugger-ise around after hours when i am already tired and knackered. Nuff said.

 

[Scaff]

Coultherd is such a spaz, did he think that Rubens and Nico simply thought that the sport is safe as it is. I dont think so. The GPDA to Nico and Rubens, is basicly what a debating team at school is to me: a waste of time, all you want to do is do your work, get through the day without any crap and then going home and relaxing, not wanting to bugger-ise around after hours when i am already tired and knackered. Nuff said.

If Nico and Rubens do (and its an assumption on your part) feel that the GDPA is a waste of time, then they are very, very much mistaken.

Anyone with a passing knowledge of the GPDA and the work it has done since its inception would be more than aware that its one of the reasons why drivers are able to 'do their work' and get home alive.

As a body its been instrumental in improving safety standards within the sport and a brief history and info can be found on Wiki.

The GPDA was founded in 1961 and was active during the 1960s and 1970s. Then, as now, the GPDA's primary objective was to improve and maintain safety standards. This led to boycotts of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in 1969 and the Nürburgring in 1970 and after 1976.

The organisation was disbanded during the 1982 Formula One season due to the effects of the changing commercial organisation of F1 and the conflicts between FOCA and FIA.

The GPDA was reformed over the weekend of the 1994 Monaco Grand Prix. This followed the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, as well as the serious accident of Rubens Barrichello at the San Marino Grand Prix two weeks before.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Prix_Drivers'_Association

Far more than simply a debating team then.

Regards

Scaff

 

[Small_Fryz]

Id be interested to know what Michael Schumacher has given to the sport. I think its a side many wouldnt know.

As for DC's words. Frankly i agree and i dont belive he was too harsh, especially of rubens whos been racing since the early 90's?

 

[TheCracker]

F1 is the pinicle of motorsport, it's drivers are argubly the best in the world. Technology in F1, including driver safety via the GPDA will filter down to the lower levels. You only need to see the increasing useage of HANS fitted helmets even in club level motorsport to see how this filtering works. If top-level drivers can't be bothered with the GPDA, it's not only their lives that are put at risk - it's every 'racing driver' the world over who potentially suffer.

 

[<_Spike_>]

I think to say that the drivers not on the GPDA are going to be a thorn in the side of safety in motorsport is a bit of an insult to those making an effort. If there are some drivers doing it, what's the problem? They all have the same intelligence when it comes to knowing Formula 1 needs to be safe, so if there's at least some of the drivers putting in their two cents and making sure things are done towards the safer side then why is it such a big deal if a couple of drivers say they don't want to be involved in the GPDA, it does not mean they think it's a waste of time or that Formula 1 is safe enough as it is, and to say they do is an assumption at best.

 

[Scaff]

I think to say that the drivers not on the GPDA are going to be a thorn in the side of safety in motorsport is a bit of an insult to those making an effort. If there are some drivers doing it, what's the problem? They all have the same intelligence when it comes to knowing Formula 1 needs to be safe, so if there's at least some of the drivers putting in their two cents and making sure things are done towards the safer side then why is it such a big deal if a couple of drivers say they don't want to be involved in the GPDA, it does not mean they think it's a waste of time or that Formula 1 is safe enough as it is, and to say they do is an assumption at best.

I don't think anyone is saying that any driver not involved in the GPDA is against safety at all, rather that the FIA has in the past used the absence of the GPDA (during the period 84 - 94) to marginalise what drivers had to say in regard to safety. Drivers had complained about safety standards at Imola prior to '94, and specifically about the Tamburello corner, this kind of concern is covered in both of Prof Sid Watkins books on F1 safety and medical care and almost any book on Senna and his death.

The following is taken from a Wiki piece on the death of Senna and kind of sums up why a number of drivers have an issue with Barrichello's refusal to take part in the GPDA.

In 1994, Senna finally left the ailing McLaren team for the top team at the end of 1993, Williams-Renault. After the banning of active suspension, Williams started the season trying to close the gap to Benetton. Senna failed to finish his first two races in Interlagos and Aida, despite taking two superb pole positions against the Benetton at both events. On May 1 1994, he took part in his third race for the team, the San Marino Grand Prix at the Imola circuit. Although he would not finish it, Senna started his last race from pole position.

That weekend, he was particularly upset by two events. On the Friday, during the morning practice session, Senna's protégé, the then newcomer Rubens Barrichello, was involved in a serious accident that prevented him from competing in the race. Senna visited Barrichello in the hospital (he jumped the wall at the back of the facility after being barred from visitation by the doctors) and was convinced that safety standards had to be reviewed. On Saturday, the death of Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger in practice forced Senna's safety concerns and caused Senna to consider retiring. Ironically, he spent his final morning meeting fellow drivers, determined by Ratzenberger's accident to take on a new responsibility to re-create a Driver's Safety group to increase safety in Formula One. As the most senior driver, he was offered the role of leader in this effort.

Back in his rookie days a chain of events that arguably started with Barrichello's accident and ended with Ratzenberger and Senna's death brought the GPDA back, and yet Barrichello is seen to dismiss it.

Now as to why it seen as important for all drivers to be involved is quite straightforward, it allows a united front to be presented when discussing safety with the FIA and/or circuits, as without it the FIA and other could argue that its not fully supported and use the fact to try and reduce the GPDA's influence. Something that would not be for the better of the sport.

As for any claims that the GPDA is no more than a debating society, well the recent press statement over testing at Jerez this winter shows that's anything but the case.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/55593

Jerez to face GPDA test inspection

By Jonathan Noble Friday, November 10th 2006, 16:58 GMT

The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) plan to inspect the Jerez circuit later this month to verify that safety improvements have been made to the track before the drivers agree to resume testing at the venue, autosport.com can reveal.

Formula One drivers became frustrated with the safety standards at the Spanish circuit and, after pushing for changes, the circuit organisers eventually agreed to make modifications to facilities, personnel and the medical centres in time for December testing.

With the GPDA keen to ensure that the promises are fulfilled, they plan to send a representative that will inspect the facility before the first winter test there to make sure everything is in order.

The GPDA will likely send down Toyota doctor Riccardo Ceccarelli to perform that inspection. He has been working closely with the drivers' body to improve safety at testing, and it was his original report on Jerez that created the concern among drivers that ultimately led to the push for modifications.

One high level source close to the GPDA told autosport.com that they hoped Jerez would have its facilities in shape prior to the first major test, which is scheduled to start on December 5th, and that the situation would be resolved happily for all concerned.

However, should the improvements not be up to scratch, then the drivers could go as far as refusing to drive at the Spanish track - although the GPDA hoped that such a course of action would not be required.

GPDA director Mark Webber has told autosport.com that the body is confident things are moving in the right direction, but he insisted that the drivers were not willing to accept half measures.

"It seems we are making sound progress with Jerez," he said. "They needed to, because apparently it was dire. It was so bad, and it might never get out just how bad it was. It wasn't good.

"We are going the right way about it, but we still have a bit more to do. This is something you cannot do at 70 percent. It is always the 30 percent that catches you out. So it has got to be done properly."

The GPDA have shown an increased willingness in recent weeks to flex their muscles when it comes to safety standards at circuits.

Autosport.com revealed at the Italian Grand Prix the body's concerns about safety at Monza, which subsequently led to a confrontation with FIA president Max Mosley about the drivers going public with their feelings.

Former GPDA director David Coulthard told the November issue of F1 Racing that it was important the drivers stood up for what they believed in - even if it put them at risk of sanctions from the governing body.

"We have to be prepared to stand up and be counted," he said. "It isn't just a case of sounding off.

"No, it's a case of: we have views, and we can back them up with facts, and we aren't about to be intimidated into keeping our mouths shut for fear of getting a slap.

"And we aren't just shouting ya-boo-sucks at an authority figure. We're asking real questions and want real answers."

Again without a united front its easier for tracks to dismiss issues such as these and/or the FIA to try and impose sanctions on drivers.

Regards

Scaff

 

[GilesGuthrie]

I read the article in one of my final copies of F1 Racing. At the time I thought that it was bang-on about Rubens, but a bit harsh about Nico. Rosberg doesn't really know enough to have a valid opinion yet, and would do better to concentrate on his racing.

Barrichello is more an elder statesman (let's not forget, he crashed a Jordan at Imola two days before Senna crashed, 12 years ago), and should be more active in representing the drivers, and especially the youngsters. However, I personally think that Barrichello is as good as a man short, and the GPDA would do better without him. So whilst I think the sentiment of what Coulthard said with respect to Barrichello is correct, I don't agree with him in this specific instance.