FIA demands ‘respect and fairness’ from the higher-ups of F1
The FIA and F1 have had quite a few verbal tussles in recent times.
Follow Us
Mohammed Ben Sulayem(uae), President of the FIA, DOMENICALI Stefano (ita), Chairman and CEO Formula One Group (Credits: Imago)
F1 as a sport has been on the upswing in recent times, but tensions have often arisen between the FIA and F1, and that’s something the FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, can do without. As the governing body of the pinnacle of motor racing, Sulayem has asked for respect and fairness from F1 on crucial matters.
The relationship between F1’s hierarchy and the International Motorsport Federation has been quite tense since Ben Sulayem succeeded Jean Todt as president of the FIA in December 2021. There have been a few verbal tussles between the two bodies since then, and they have been widely discussed in the media. Sulayem, while talking about the recent problems, said, as reported by Racingnews365, “We need respect, recognition from the FIA and fairness.”
One of the major problems between the FIA and F1 arose when Mohammed Ben Sulayem publicly questioned the value of F1. This was in line with reports of an apparent $20 billion offer from a Saudi Arabian public investment fund, which Liberty Media, the current owner of the pinnacle of motor racing, instantly rejected.
Moreover, the decision-makers makers of F1 were not a tiny bit pleased with the allegations that were made by Sulayem, and to make the FIA aware of their dissatisfaction, they sent a letter to the FIA warning of the damage that such comments could do. Recently, there have also been disagreements over allowing potential new entrants into the sport.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem expects F1 to be fully transparent
While Sulayem has had quite a few disagreements with F1, going forward, the governing body expects full transparency on the part of F1. He added, “We’ll get there. I’ve had good talks with Stefano (Domenicali, Formula 1 boss, ed.) about this and he is aligned with the needs of the FIA. We have to be transparent.”
“If we ask for better deals like it’s about money, we need to show where it’s going, including improving stewarding, improving the ROC [Remote Operations Center] and improving our equipment.” Looking at the comments of the 61-year-old, it is quite clear that he expects certain things which, according to him, will help FIA immensely in doing their jobs.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem is often spotted in the F1 paddock during Grand Prix weekends, having conversations with the lights of Stefano, the FIA personnel, the drivers, and the F1 team principals. He ardently believes that if transparency is reached in the operating methods of both the FIA and F1, then body bodies can grow at an exponential pace.
In case you missed it:
- Aston Martin to enhance trick winglet design following Dutch GP failure
- Lewis Hamilton CONFESSES he switched to an ‘extreme diet’ to pay for his summertime indulgence
Stay Updated!
Rishabh Negi
(3244 Articles Published)