Drivers Strike Rumors Circulate

This past week, rumors have been going around that many Formula 1 drivers will go on strike, in protest of unpaid wages. These drivers include Kimi Raikkonen, Romain Grosjean, Kamui Kobayashi, Nico Hulkenburg, and Adrian Sutil, who are all awaiting payment for previous years' work.


The Formula 1 drivers have all signed document vowing to strike if they are not paid for their services, as part of their union, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA). However, Raikkonen, who is not a member of the GPDA and has not been paid by his previous team, Lotus Renault, for the 2013 season, and Lewis Hamilton have both refused to sign the document, which could create issues in the future.


These rumors have been set off by Steve Robertson, Kimi Raikkonen's manager, arguing in the paddock at the Bahrain Grand Prix with the Lotus team principal, Federico Gastaldi, over Raikkonen's still unpaid wages.

Nico Hulkenburg has commented on the issue, saying that "It's something that's not good for the pinnacle of motor racing but we've never discussed doing a strike."

Drivers' wages are becoming a growing issue because the sport is becoming more and more costly each year and so the teams can not afford to pay the drivers their exorbitant wages. Currently, the highest paid driver this year is Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, who is being paid $37 million.

The last major strike in Formula 1 happened in 2005 when 6 out of the 20 cars competed in the United States Grand Prix. The other 14 cars did not compete because they were protesting tire failures.

Time will tell what happens with these strikes if the drivers' wages aren't paid.