GPDA want Schumacher to come clean

Amid pressure from some of his rivals who want him to stand down from his role as president of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) after he was judged to have deliberately stopped his car on the track in the closing minutes of Monaco qualifying, fellow drivers now want to give Schumacher the chance behind closed doors to fully explain what happened.

It is understood that the matter will be brought up at the GPDA's next meeting, which is scheduled to take place at the British Grand Prix.

Several drivers are still upset about the safety implications of Schumacher's actions, and are believed to feel uncomfortable that the GPDA's mandate in pushing for improved safety in the sport may be compromised by being represented by a driver who put other drivers' safety at risk by deliberately stopping his car on the track to impede his rivals.

Although initial speculation that there was a petition among drivers to force Schumacher to step down from his role in the GPDA appears to be wide of the mark, high level sources have revealed that a group of drivers are pushing for action to be taken.

And despite Schumacher's protestations of innocence in public about what happened, and his wish to put the matter behind him, rival drivers want to give him the chance of be honest about the events in qualifying so they can judge the situation for themselves.

Jarno Trulli, who is a GPDA director, quelled talk about an official push for Schumacher's removal from his role within the body at next week's meeting, but did admit that there would be a demand for answers about the Rascasse incident.

Speaking to autosport.com, he said: "Yes, there will be a meeting of drivers at Silverstone and the question will be raised about Michael.

"As a GPDA member, myself as well as other drivers want to ask him, with no polemics, no speculation and simply a discussion between drivers.

"I feel the same as I did in Monaco. It is obvious; he may say whatever he wants to you, but he cannot do that to other drivers."

Some drivers are less accommodating than Trulli, however, and believe Schumacher's actions alone have left his position as president of the GPDA untenable. Sources within the body have suggested that an informal motion will be put forward in the meeting asking Schumacher to consider stepping down.

One source said: "We will not force him to stand down, but we will ask him. We hope he has enough sense to understand why we feel like this."

Schumacher said on Friday, however, that he was not moved by suggestions that his rivals wanted to talk to him about the Monaco incident.

"I do not think the drivers will have to speak to me about this, because perhaps if they have to speak to anyone it would be the stewards," he said. "They spoke to me already and everything has been done. It is not the drivers' job to speak to me about this."

Whatever the proceedings in the meeting, it is likely to lead to further controversy within the GPDA.

McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa said at Monaco that if Schumacher did not step down from his role as president of the GPDA then he would leave the body.

"In my opinion I don't see how he can remain a GPDA director, but this is only my opinion, not the opinion of the organisation," he said. "We will have to discuss this matter at the next meeting [at Silverstone]. But if he remains as a director, then I cannot continue to do so."