Damon Hill recalls the only F1 driver to get the better of Bernie Ecclestone

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Damon Hill recently recalled how one driver managed to get the better of Bernie Ecclestone during the 1982 drivers’ strike in South Africa over the new Super Licence rules.

With the 2026 F1 regulations now in play, there’s been a similar sense of unrest among current drivers. The main frustration this time is around car weight and the overall direction of technical changes.

Lando Norris was reportedly told to stay quiet about his opinions on the new rules, but Max Verstappen hasn’t held back. The Dutchman has even raised the possibility of retirement, saying he wants F1 to return to more traditional racing rather than continue down its current path.

Some believe Verstappen is playing a strategic game to put pressure on the FIA. If that is the case, he could benefit from employing Niki Lauda’s approach to the 1982 drivers’ strike in South Africa.

Niki Lauda’s clever play during the South Africa strike

Damon Hill recently appeared on The Race’s F1 podcast, where he discussed how tough it was for drivers under Bernie Ecclestone’s control of Formula 1.

“I think Bernie (Ecclestone) was very, very aware that the drivers did have power. And he was never going to utter the words, ‘The drivers are the stars of the show,’” Hill recalled.

Ecclestone never liked to give away any power and refused to acknowledge that drivers were more than just participants in his eyes.

This likely stemmed from his dealings with Niki Lauda during the 1982 strike over changes to Super Licence requirements in South Africa.

He understood from experience that if they ever came together, they could pull all the levers and hold real sway over the sport. “And he knew he was totally beholden,” Hill explained.

The only time Ecclestone truly felt that impact was during a strike led by Niki Lauda and supported by figures like Jody Scheckter and Didier Pironi.

Lauda had a knack for uniting drivers, helping them push through significant changes. It wasn’t just a minor dispute, it turned into what many saw as a full-blown revolution within F1 at the time.

Modern F1 drivers face more hurdles in organising than past generations

The sport’s rules now keep drivers from using collective action in the way Lauda once did. Today’s Formula 1 landscape is much different, with no formal union for drivers, who are considered independent contractors.

Without that level of unity or structure, making broad changes becomes a lot harder. Some teams have adapted well to the new regulations and don’t see much reason to push for big adjustments.

Others would rather focus on smaller tweaks instead of overhauling everything. Even if there are widespread issues, it’s not as easy as before for everyone to get behind one cause.

This leaves today’s drivers having to rely more on their individual influence rather than group action if they want to make any real impact on the direction of the sport.

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