Todt also responded to GPDA letter

FIA president Jean Todt also responded to the F1 drivers’ public complaint about the sport’s current governance.

Just after the 2016 season opener, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) revealed an open letter to F1 "stakeholders" expressing formal concern about recent decisions made on the sporting, technical and business sides.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone responded almost immediately, telling the drivers: "It is easy to analyse what is wrong so why not think and come back on this. At least it is better to think before you wish."

France’s L’Equipe reports on Thursday that FIA president Todt has also responded, albeit "confidentially".

When asked about Ecclestone’s response, GPDA president Alex Wurz said: "We are glad to have an answer, which he also disclosed to the media.

"Then it’s one thing to have an answer but another to be heard and listened to. We are waiting for that now," the Austrian and former F1 driver added.

Wurz said it is imperative that F1 makes smart changes in the near future in order to address not only a decline in the sport’s general popularity, but also that of motoring in general.

"I completely agree," he said.

"At a meeting of a working group dedicated to motor sport, I said "Car sports will have no problem as long as children love to play with toy cars and dream of driving them.

"But today that is less the case because of changes in society, with new technologies and the emergence of social media. We must adapt to these changes in behaviour," Wurz added.