FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem hits out at drivers for ‘not wanting to pay’ professional stewards

Mohammed Ben Sulayem took a dig at Formula 1 drivers not wanting to pay extra to provide salaries to the stewards.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem hits out at drivers for ‘not wanting to pay’ professional stewards

Mohammed Ben Sulayem (via IMAGO)

The FIA and the F1 drivers have recently been in a war of words following some unfair ruling against the latter. The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) started the argument after demanding better conditions for the drivers. The FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has strongly responded to one of the demands.

The GPDA demanded that the stewards must be permanent and earn real salaries in order to put forth fair and unbiased rulings. Mohammed Ben Sulayem took a dig and said all these comments were ‘nice talk.’ However, when the drivers demand professional stewards, they aren’t ready to pay their salaries out of their pockets as asserted by Sulayem.

It’s very nice talk, but when they say professional, and they want professional, they don’t want to pay for it. That is so obvious.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem told Autosport
YouTube video

Moreover, the GPDA also questioned the fine allocation from the FIA and where they spent the money. Towards this, Ben Sulayem reckoned that the governing body never questioned where the drivers spent their money. Hence, it was their business and the GPDA didn’t need to interfere and question the authorities. Moreover, the FIA CEO slammed the drivers for only questioning them and not approaching Formula One Management (FOM).

FS Video

The drivers are getting over $100 million. Do I ask where they spend it? No, it’s up to them. It’s their right. So please, it’s not only me saying it is none of their business. We do whatever we do with our money. It’s our business. It’s also [the same] with them and their money. It’s their business. It’s always about the FIA. Why are we doing this? Why are we doing that? But did anyone go to FOM?

Mohammed Ben Sulayem added

The FIA boss insists the Stewards don’t ‘grow on trees’

Mohammed Ben Sulayem had previously taken a dig at the community for always receiving rubbish amidst their ruling. The 63-year-old claimed that the stewards didn’t go on trees as it took time to educate and appoint them. Moreover, Ben Sulayem noted that F1 didn’t have money like Football to pay the stewards salaries.

I say it again and again – stewards do not grow on trees, It takes time to educate them. It takes time to train them. And then you evolve them, so we have a programme. I see the point about having them maybe like the Premier League where they [the referees] are paid. But we don’t have the money to do that.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem noted
Stefano Domenicali and Mohammed Ben Sulayem (via IMAGO)
Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Stefano Domenicali (via IMAGO)

F1 continues to receive massive boosts in terms of popularity and viewership. The FIA must do a better job at governing the sport and ensuring fair ruling. As a result, some massive changes might be in order as Ben Sulayem will have to take a look into the matter and make sure such problems do not arise again in the sport.