New director of drivers' body expects to offer different views
Thursday 11 May 2017 13:58, UK
Romain Grosjean believes he will offer a "different point of view" on F1 safety matters after being elected as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.
The Haas director has replaced Jenson Button, who stepped down from a full-time race seat last year, to join Sebastian Vettel as a director, with former driver Alex Wurz serving as the body's chairman. The majority of current drivers are GPDA members.
"I've been in Formula 1 for a bit of time, I've been in the GPDA for most of that time and we've had some good thinking and things done," Grosjean told Sky Sports News HQ.
"I'm not always of the same opinion as Alex or Seb and I think it's good thing that I can be director because then we can chat and I can have a different point of view.
"I'm very happy with that role."
One of F1's most pressing safety issues remains the proposed introduction of cockpit head protection from next season.
Although the FIA last year identified the halo as its preferred solution, the governing body now plans to conduct trials of a shield arrangement with the first on-track tests expected at September's Italian GP.
Grosjean is personally opposed to any head protection and, amid continued differences of opinion among the drivers, the Frenchman believes he can contribute to the debate before a final decision is taken.
"We have got that vote system where it's the majority [that carries the vote]," he said.
"I'm against any head protection. It's not the case of everyone. Being a director I can still have my own point of view, but once we've decided something from a majority point of view that's what matters."
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