Formula 1 News

Superlicence: F1 drivers to strike at British GP? 

According to the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, the F1 circus would be risking a lockdown at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone scheduled for July 6th, as F1 drivers are unhappy with the cost of a Superlicence and are planning to strike. The online edition of the magazine claims that drivers are asking for a return of the sums paid to the FIA to obtain the Superlicence.

The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) would be ready to meet FIA President Max Mosley in order to discuss the matter before the British Grand Prix. According to the figures published by the magazine, the basic fee for a Superlicence in 2008 had been increased from 1.500€ to 10.000€: that’s the sum Nelson Piquet jr, Kazuki Nakajima, Timo Glock, Rubens Barrichello, Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Bourdais would have paid.

Along with the basic fee, each driver had to add 2.000€ for each point scored in last year’s championship. This explains the 230.000€ paid by 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen, the 228.000€ by Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton and the 198.000€ by Felipe Massa. BMW’s Robert Kubica, temporary leader of this year’s championship, would have paid 88.000€ while teammate Nick Heidfeld 132.000€.

“The Superlicence costs to Kubica around a tenth of his contract,” an anonymous driver was quoted as saying to Auto Motor und Sport. The FIA, has already pointed out that the money will be spent to cover the costs of increased safety: an explanation that apparently hasn’t convinced the drivers.