FIA goes ballistic on GPDA chairman Wurz over karting safety claims

The FIA has moved to shut down accusations from GPDA chairman Alex Wurz after the former F1 driver claimed karting – the grassroots level of motorsports – had taken a dangerous turn with the introduction of aerodynamic tweaks.

In a recent interview with a Dutch website, Wurz alleged that that all “20 F1 drivers” had united in raising concerns about junior karting developments, which he branded “absolutely insane” and “dangerous”.

Wurz told GPBlog that he believed the FIA had “allowed aerodynamic parts on the karts”, a move he said risked the safety of young competitors.

"They come up with floors, and with different kinds of wings and downforce settings," the German said. “We all said, this is absolutely insane, because karting is so cool, and all of it will just make it more expensive and perhaps more dangerous.

"We see no benefits to the sport, only downsides. Everyone will want to buy those downforce parts, but its not for the better of sport or drivers."

In reaction to Wurz’s allegations, the FIA stressed that karting regulations remain tightly controlled and leave no room for unsafe innovation.

FIA Issues Firm Denial

“The FIA strongly refutes a number of assertions made in comments carried in a recent article published by GPBlog.com,” read an official statement from the governing body.

“These statements are incorrect and misrepresent the CIK-FIA Karting Technical and Homologation Regulations which govern FIA-sanctioned Karting events and explicitly prohibit modifications to the aerodynamics, wings, or floors of karts.

“To clarify: Article 4.6 of the Karting Technical Regulations, updated by the World Motor Sport Council in February 2025, specifically prohibits alterations to the floor trays of karts. The technical regulations also stipulate that only components expressly approved by the FIA may be used, thereby preventing the use of untested or non-homologated parts.

“All homologated bodywork must undergo FIA-standard crash testing, ensuring safety and integrity. There are currently five manufacturers who have homologated bodywork parts with a numbering system in place to ensure and track regulatory compliance.

“Under Article 22 of the Homologation Regulations, bodywork must be air-blow moulded, which inherently prevents adjustable aerodynamic features.

“Additionally, Article 3.2 of the Technical Regulations prohibits any modifications to homologated bodywork as inferred was possible or taking place in the article.”

Safety and Scrutiny

The FIA also stressed that karting rules are rigorously enforced and that safety remains central to its mission.

“The FIA welcomes the opportunity to clarify these points and reiterate the strict regulatory framework in place which ensures consistency, safety, cost containment and fairness in karting,” the statement added.

“The claims made in the article regarding alterations are not permitted in FIA-sanctioned Karting events and it is important to note that all components, including bodywork, are tightly controlled through homologation and scrutineering procedures that prevent any unapproved modifications.”

Addressing Wurz’s warning that young drivers’ safety was under threat, the governing body directly rejected the premise:

“Safety will always be the key priority of the FIA. Suggestions that safety has been compromised to accommodate kart upgrades are entirely baseless and untrue.

“In fact, the technical regulations have been strengthened this year to further enhance safety standards. The FIA has in recent years developed several new safety standards for karting, such as the karting body protection, karting light panels and karting helmet standards.

“The FIA continues to strengthen safety standards in karting and will shortly release a completely new safety device initiative for karting.

“The FIA remains deeply committed to making karting more accessible and inclusive. Through our Global Karting Plan, we are introducing new categories and competitions such as the FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup in November where standardised karts will ensure technical and financial parity in a competition that identifies and rewards racing talent.”

A Growing Dispute

For now, the governing body is understood to be weighing its next move, including a possible request for retraction of the claims. Yet the row raises further questions: how and when did all “20 F1 drivers” supposedly line up behind Wurz, and why was the matter not taken directly to the FIA if concerns were truly universal?

Equally puzzling is why GPBlog never bothered to contact the FIA for a reaction to Wurz’s comments, with several weeks unfolding between the interview – conducted at last month’s Belgian Grand Prix – and its publication.

Whether politics influenced the narrative or not, what is clear is that the FIA is determined to challenge any suggestion that it has compromised the safety of the sport’s youngest competitors.

The dispute may also have repercussions beyond karting: if tensions escalate, it could complicate how Wurz and the GPDA interact with the FIA on Formula 1-related issues, where constructive dialogue between drivers and the governing body has historically been crucial on safety and regulatory matters.

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