Pepe Marti reveals ‘freaking weird’ Formula E letter to FIA president reaction

Formula E rookie Pepe Martí has revealed he found it "freaking weird" to receive a PDF of the drivers’ letter addressed directly to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, already with 18 signatures.

The Spaniard was one of the last drivers to receive the letter and was among the final two on the grid to sign it, making him feel as if there was no choice but to add his own signature to the foot of the document.

The letter was ultimately signed by all 20 drivers on the Formula E grid and received by the FIA ahead of the Madrid E-Prix at the Circuito del Jarama.

It addressed areas of dissatisfaction among drivers and outlined what action they would like to see going forward, including having former Formula E drivers on the stewarding panel and a review of race director Marek Hanaczewski.

Season 3 champion Lucas di Grassi and reigning world champion Oliver Rowland wrote the letter before it was sent to the rest of the grid to be signed.

All drivers, regardless of category, signing the same document—particularly one as significant as this—is incredibly rare in motorsport.

For Martí, who only has six race starts to his name, it put him in an interesting and arguably uncomfortable position, although he agreed with much of what was in the document.

"Well, I received a PDF, and there were 18 signatures on it, so I sort of didn’t want to be the odd one out,” Martin explained to RacingNews365. "So, yeah, I signed it. I’m not against the letter.

"There are things that I haven’t agreed with throughout this year, but at the same time, it’s a recommendation letter, and I feel it’s being taken very harshly.

"Obviously, as drivers, all we’re looking for is to make this championship as fair as possible and as enjoyable for the fans. It was a recommendation letter for what the drivers think can be improved in the championship. 

"There are a lot of people involved, not at all undermining their efforts. We just feel like there are things that can be improved, and I think the FIA feels the same way in some areas."

Marti's initial reaction

Receiving an unexpected document in any form is enough to catch almost anyone off guard—imagine if it were a letter being sent to the FIA president.

That is precisely the situation Martí found himself in, with almost the entire grid having already signed and approved it.

The Cupra Kiro driver’s initial reaction highlights the surprise—or, better put, shock—he felt upon receiving the document.

"To be nice and put it politely, it was freaking weird. I could have said the other word, but it was very freaking weird to be sent a letter saying, ‘Oh yeah, we’re sending this to the President.’ I was like, ‘OK, that’s pretty interesting.’

"But again, like I said before, there are great people at the FIA, and I want to think that they took it the right way. Obviously, I haven’t spoken to the President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, but he’s been great for the sport—I think many people would agree on that.

"Obviously, people can say whatever, but the sport’s growing worldwide, and I think, as drivers, what we want is the best for the future of the championship. 

"In my case, I got [the letter] and signed it. But again, we’re all looking for the best future for the championship."