Drivers threatened Ecclestone with strike: 'We would have done it'

Since Ross Brawn came to work as Formula 1's sporting director in 2017, after Liberty Media took over the rights from Bernie Ecclestone, the sport has become better on the map in several ways. There is much more of a social media presence, there is a proper Netflix series in Drive to Survive and new experiments are being considered to improve race weekends and attract new viewers and fans.

Change of guard a good thing

One of the changes concerns the newly introduced sprint races this year. But what Brawn is also doing right is allowing the men who matter, the drivers, to have a say in many decisions. A good thing according to Alex Wurz, president of the Grand Prix Drivers Association. "This is very good. That's his job as sporting boss. It's our job to sometimes not see the commercial view, which he represents, and see the longer term because the drivers have a super-pure idea about racing."

"We grew up loving this sport, and we want the next five, six generations to love it the same way we've seen it as a sport. And I use the word sport on purpose, and not show. From selling the sport, which is his job, he has a right to ask those questions. But we also have the right to voice our opinions. It's a very good conversation and dialogue. Not always the same opinion. But it is good, very good," said Wurz at Autosport.com.

Threatening to strike

So Wurz is clearly pleased with the fresh wind blowing through F1. "It's a very welcome culture change from the Bernie [Ecclestone] days. God bless Bernie, he built all this up so we can now take it to the next level. We as drivers fought to get social media accepted. We threatened Bernie with a strike, and we would have done that. You weren't allowed to take pictures or film from the paddock. He was adamant, but so were we, and in the end, it worked out modern."