
The word "strike" was tentatively mentioned in Formula One circles on Thursday as drivers expressed their concern about the cost of their super licence this year.
The document allows them to compete in F1 and up until recently it cost Ј1,354, plus an additional Ј357 for each point won.
However, FIA president Max Mosley opted to bring in new levies at the start of the season of Ј7,858 for the licence and Ј1,570 per point.
The new legislation was imposed retrospectively, which meant the likes of Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso all paid around Ј180,000 to compete in F1 last season.
Mosley feels that is not a lot to ask from well-paid drivers who benefit from high levels of spending on safety, but the Grand Prix Drivers' Association are up in arms.
Alonso said: "It's a ridiculous amount. We should pay a reasonable price. It cannot change 1,000% in a year."
When questioned about drivers voicing their protest via a strike, the Renault driver added: "We don't have many possibilities.
"But for sure it's one of the options we are talking about in the GPDA. We need to do something all together because as a group we have more effect than as a single person."
However, Red Bull star David Coulthard insisted: "There's not going to be a strike. That's rubbish!"
There is a genuine concern among drivers, although members of the public are unlikely to sympathise.
Coulthard added: "Not every driver pays his super licence. Some of the drivers have an agreement in their contract where the team pay the super licence.
"As it's a form of income for the FIA they have decided "Well, we will take part of that from the drivers".
"But it's affecting some and not others, which is not entirely fair, so it needs to be discussed and understood."
The drivers were scheduled to meet Mosley in Monaco, although due to the furore surrounding the 68-year-old at the time, the meeting was postponed.
Coulthard's Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber has suggested Mosley is currently avoiding talking to the drivers.
However, an FIA spokesman confirmed that Mosley wrote to the GPDA on June 6 stating he would be happy to meet with them, and to name a time and venue, but he has yet to receive a reply.
When the meeting takes place, the GPDA will seek a compromise as there is a feeling if they are contributing towards safety, the more successful drivers should not be penalised.
Robert Kubica, who currently leads the drivers' standings ahead of this Sunday's French Grand Prix, said: "I agree with what Fernando has said about the cost of the super licence.
"It has increased quite a lot compared to last year. We think it's too much. Yet drivers who don't have quick cars and are not scoring points don't care because they don't pay, so we are trying to convince the FIA to reduce the costs.
"The FIA says the money goes to safety, and I agree safety is important.
"If the standard of safety increased then in the end we should pay for it because there is quite a high risk of an accident.
"Given my accident last year, and Heikki's (Kovalainen) this year, it shows the FIA are doing a very good job on safety.
"But I don't see why some drivers have to pay more. In the end we are all driving F1 cars."
Kubica's view was supported by his main championship rivals Hamilton, reigning world champion Raikkonen and his Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa, none of whom are members of the GPDA.
But regarding a strike, Raikkonen smiled and said: "I don't think there is any reason to do that and not race.
"It's not the right way to go about things, but it's never going to happen anyway that all the drivers will strike.
"Hopefully, though, a nice solution will be found."


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