George Russell says his first year as a Director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association has "opened my eyes" to matters out of the cockpit. Russell took on his new role with the GPDA ahead of the 2021 season, after Romain Grosjean stepped down, joining Sebastian Vettel as a Director alongside Chairman Alex Wurz. The GPDA represents the interests of all drivers on the F1 grid and has played a key role in supporting and shaping safety in the sport. Russell has used his voice to promote safety on several occasions, including at the recent Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where he described the new, high-speed Jeddah street track as "a recipe for disaster" .
Russell learning on the job
Asked to reflect on his first year in the role, and what he has picked up along the way, Russell told accredited media, including RacingNews365.com : "I'd say I've learned that there's a lot more to it than meets the eye. "I've learned that you always live and learn from situations and the sport is constantly evolving. It's never enough, if that makes sense. You're always striving for more. "The safety aspect is the key one, and I think things in recent events, especially [in Saudi Arabia], have been big talking points, but also ways to try and improve the Sporting Regulations to make the racing better."
"I've really enjoyed it"
Russell added that he has "really enjoyed" the experience so far and is proud to be contributing to the safety of "everybody in motorsport". "Sometimes there's a very busy period, sometimes there's nothing going on at all, but it all depends on the situation and what is happening in the world of motorsport at the time, and how we can try and improve certain situations," he continued. "But on a personal level, I've really enjoyed the involvement. It's opened my eyes to things outside of just trying to go as fast as possible around a racetrack and trying to have a greater good and impact for everybody in motorsport."
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