Rosberg: Pity leading drivers not in GPDA.

Though he did not name names, Nico Rosberg has hinted that it is a shame Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen are not members of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association - the body that meets regularly to discuss safety in Formula 1 amongst other issues.

The young German - in his third season in the top flight - countered GPDA chairman Pedro de la Rosa's insistence that there is no pressure on Hamilton and Raikkonen to join the association, and seemed to implicitly back the criticism of Sir Jackie Stewart that the Briton is 'wrong and complacent' in not becoming a member [see separate story - click here].

Force India's Adrian Sutil and Super Aguri ace Anthony Davidson are similarly absent from the GPDA, and Rosberg said whilst he was powerless in terms of persuading his long-time friend and karting rival to sign up, he did suggest that he believed it would be the right thing to do.

"What am I supposed to say to him?" the Williams star is quoted as having told Motorsport Aktuell. "He can decide for himself.

"The only thing is that I think it is a pity that there are leading F1 drivers that are not in the GPDA."