Formula 1 drivers have an adequate say - FIA's Charlie Whiting

In the past the drivers have often bemoaned the fact they have little say in the way F1 is run, and when they do speak out, their voices are often ignored.

They have recently begun to make their feelings plain regarding a number of aspects of F1, escalating until last week an open letter from the Grand Prix Drivers' Association was issued complaining about the championship's "obsolete and ill-structured" governance.

Suggested to Whiting prior to the letter's publication that F1 and its rule-making process require more input from the drivers, he replied: "I don't think it needs more, because they've got adequate.

"They've got many, many chances to talk about the rules with us. I honestly don't see how they could have much more.

"And of course, even at Formula 1 Commission level, there's nothing to stop a driver asking their team principal to put their point across because all the teams are on that Commission.

"But by that time they have had lots of chances to give their view."

Whiting cited "technical and sporting working group meetings" as events "technical and sporting working group meeting" as events "to which a driver is always invited".

He added: "There is also a seat on the FIA Circuits Commission for a Formula 1 driver, but again attendance is not as high as one might like.

"They do get an opportunity every race weekend [via the drivers' briefing] to sit and discuss whatever they want to.

"We don't just talk about what's happened on the track today, they talk about all sorts of things. That's another perfect opportunity to discuss anything they wish.

"And I'm always happy to talk to them. We had a meeting in Barcelona [at the second pre-season test] and as you know, quite a few drivers actually turned up for it, which was nice."