Breaking: GPDA Chairman Alex Wurz responds to FIA ‘inconsistency’ concerns following…read more
GPDA Chairman Alex Wurz Backs FIA Amid ‘Inconsistency’ Claims Following Imola GP Decisions
Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) chairman Alex Wurz has defended the FIA’s Race Directors following criticism over seemingly inconsistent decisions during the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The controversy stemmed from the retirements of Esteban Ocon and Kimi Antonelli, both of whom suffered mechanical failures in a similar area of the track—on the uphill section out of Tosa, pulling off to the left-hand side onto the grass. Despite the similarities, the FIA responded differently: Antonelli’s stoppage triggered a full Safety Car, while Ocon’s incident was handled under a Virtual Safety Car (VSC).
This disparity led to questions from observers about the consistency of race control decisions. However, Wurz came to the defense of the officials, urging fans and teams to consider the broader context in which such calls are made.
“While the incidents may have looked alike, Race Control evaluates each situation with detailed, real-time data,” Wurz said. “They consider things like how far off-track the car is, how visible it is to other drivers, how quickly marshals can reach it, and what the overall track conditions are.”
Wurz emphasized that safety remains the top priority and supported the judgment of the race officials based on the information available to them at the time.
Though the rest of the race proceeded without major issues, the differing responses to these incidents have reignited the conversation around decision-making consistency in Formula 1. Wurz’s comments aim to reassure the paddock that such choices are made with care and responsibility, even when they may appear inconsistent from the outside.
