Tag: Mohammed Ben Sulayem

Drivers told FIA affairs ‘none of their business’ by Ben Sulayem

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem told Formula 1 drivers to focus on their main jobs and that what happens within the governing body is “none of their business.” The drivers have been asking for clarity relating to where the proceeds from their …

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem told Formula 1 drivers to focus on their main jobs and that what happens within the governing body is “none of their business.”

The drivers have been asking for clarity relating to where the proceeds from their monetary fines are spent, with an extraordinary joint statement from the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) pointing out they have been doing so for three years. A lack of response to that statement drew criticism from the drivers in Las Vegas, and after the recent departures of senior steward Tim Mayer and F2 deputy race director Janette Tan, George Russell was again frustrated in Qatar.

“It must be super challenging for everyone within the FIA right now,” Russell said on Thursday. “We’d love to get a little bit of clarity and understanding of what’s going on and who’s getting fired next.”

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However, those comments have received short shrift from Ben Sulayem, who told Reuters the drivers should keep themselves out of FIA affairs.

“Do we have to tell them? When something in the teams changes, do they tell us?” Ben Sulayem said. “We have the rules, we follow our rules. We don’t follow someone else’s rule. Simple as this.

“Do we tell them how to drive? Do we tell them what to have as their strategy? It’s none of their business. Sorry… I am a driver. I respect the drivers. Let them go and concentrate on what they do best, which is race.”

Drivers’ comments have been put into greater focus by a report in The Times that claims two of the four members of the FIA’s audit committee — that scrutinizes the governing body’s finances — had their services ended after raising concerns over Ben Sulayem’s plans to give money to member clubs.

The report alleges Ben Sulayem wanted to divert his personal FIA entitlement worth $1.5 million into a new “President’s development fund” that would be distributed to clubs who will vote when he seeks re-election next year. When chairman of the committee Bertrand Badré and member Tom Purves raised the issue, it’s reported they were removed shortly after.

Ben Sulayem changes tune on Andretti F1 bid, says buy existing team

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has told Andretti Cadillac to try and buy an existing Formula 1 team rather than attempt to join the sport as a new entrant, despite initiating the process for new teams last year. Ben Sulayem endorsed Andretti’s …

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has told Andretti Cadillac to try and buy an existing Formula 1 team rather than attempt to join the sport as a new entrant, despite initiating the process for new teams last year.

Ben Sulayem endorsed Andretti’s bid and instructed the FIA to open up the process that would allow new teams to try and join the grid, with the existing agreements stating there can be at least two more constructors’ entered into F1. Andretti’s submission was the only one approved by the FIA as meeting all of the criteria the governing body had set out for a new team, allowing it to try and reach a commercial agreement with Formula One Management (FOM).

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However, FOM rejected a request to enter before 2028 – when General Motors has registered its interest to develop its own power unit – and said it would likely look more favorably on the bid once a full GM power unit was part of the Andretti Cadillac entry.

While U.S. Government officials have been lobbying for investigations into the lack of an entry so far, Ben Sulayem has now said Andretti should purchase an existing team, despite none of the 10 constructors’ openly stating they are interested in a takeover.

“I have no doubt FOM and Liberty (Media) would love to see other teams as long as they are OEMs (car manufacturers),” Ben Sulayem told Reuters. “I would advise them (Andretti Cadillac) to go and buy another team, not to come as the 11th team.

“I feel that some teams need to be refreshed. What is better? To have 11 teams as a number or 10 and they are strong? I still believe we should have more teams but not any teams. The right teams. It’s not about the number, it’s about the quality.”

Ben Sulayem also suggests some teams are unstable from a managerial perspective and should be targeted by Andretti, although aside from Red Bull – where Christian Horner has come under scrutiny for his alleged behavior towards a colleague – the three most recent teams principal changes have occurred at Alpine, RB and Haas, who all insist they are not for sale.

“Without mentioning names, there are teams which are struggling… struggling with performance, struggling even with management,” he said. “It’s about having the right team, not to lose a chance or an opportunity where someone like GM with a PU [power unit] is coming to Formula 1.

“Imagine the impact. We have three races in America. We have such a huge fan base. But we don’t have a proper (U.S.) team. I’m so happy to have Ford in but imagine having GM and imagine having American drivers.”

The next draft of the Concorde Agreement is currently being worked on that could see an increase on the current $200 million fee demanded of new entrants that would be distributed among existing teams.

“We have to have a balance. Is $200 million too low?” Ben Sulayem added. “I believe $600 (million) is something where it is right for the current market.”

Ben Sulayem now facing allegations over Vegas GP

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been hit with fresh accusations from a whistleblower, this time claiming that he allegedly told officials not to homologate the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit, The BBC – which first carried news that Ben Sulayem …

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been hit with fresh accusations from a whistleblower, this time claiming that he allegedly told officials not to homologate the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit,

The BBC – which first carried news that Ben Sulayem was subject of a report from the FIA compliance officer to its ethics committee about alleged interference in a Formula 1 race result last year – has now added a further allegation from the same whistleblower.

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In the article, the BBC cites another report to the ethics committee, with the whistleblower claiming that they were contacted by their manager “who on behest of the FIA president instructed him to find some concerns to prevent the FIA from certifying the circuit before the weekend of the race” in Las Vegas.

Had the circuit not been certified, the race would not have been allowed to go ahead.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix was a high-profile round on the 2023 calendar as it made its debut using a circuit along Las Vegas Boulevard and around the Sphere. F1 owner Liberty Media was a joint promoter for the race and invested heavily in the event.

Contacted for comment by RACER, an FIA spokesperson said: “From a sporting and safety perspective, the Las Vegas circuit approval followed FIA protocol in terms of inspection and certification.

“If you recall, there was a delay in the track being made available for inspection due to ongoing local organizer construction works.”

Earlier, the FIA had confirmed it is discussing the matter regarding the original allegation into the penalty handed to Fernando Alonso at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix internally.

A spokesperson for Formula 1 declined to comment when approached by RACER.

FIA ends investigation into Wolffs as blowback ensues

The FIA has made a rapid about-turn after announcing that it was investigating a conflict of interest complaint involving F1 Academy head Susie Wolff, and has dropped the matter after just two days. The governing body announced on Tuesday that it …

The FIA has made a rapid about-turn after announcing that it was investigating a conflict of interest complaint involving F1 Academy head Susie Wolff, and has dropped the matter after just two days.

The governing body announced on Tuesday that it was looking into allegations that confidential information relating to Formula One Media – which owns the commercial rights to both F1 and F1 Academy – had been passed between Wolff and Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff, who is Susie’s husband. Wolff also had access to information about conversations between team principals, which in turn could be of value to FOM. That investigation ended abruptly on Thursday.

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When initially announcing its investigation, the FIA said that its compliance department had taken on the matter based on “media speculation,” which appeared to be a report in one UK-based publication. The Wolffs were not named in the FIA’s initial statement, but were quickly linked to the matter in subsequent media reporting, which the Wolffs suggested was the product of off-the-record briefing.

Formula 1 and Susie Wolff immediately responded with statements rejecting the claims, as did Mercedes, which also took aim at the FIA’s handling of the issue. One day later, all 10 Formula 1 teams coordinated to issue identical statements denying that they had made a conflict of interest complaint to the FIA —  directly undermining the FIA’s justification for its investigation, which it said was rooted in reports of rival teams being concerned about the Wolffs’ relationship in light of their jobs — and throwing their support behind the couple:

“We can confirm that we have not made any complaint to the FIA regarding the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed between an F1 Team Principal and a member of FOM staff,” the statement read. “We are pleased and proud to support F1 Academy and its managing director through our commitment to sponsor an entrant in our liveries from next season.”

The FIA remained light on specifics when it backed down on Thursday, saying only that it had revisited FOM’s code of conduct and conflict of interest policies, and had satisfied itself that “FOM’s compliance management system is robust enough to prevent any unauthorized disclosure of confidential information.” It concluded by confirming that there is “no ongoing investigation.”

While the FIA considers the matter over, Mercedes has confirmed that it is in “active legal exchange” with the FIA.

“We await full transparency about what took place and why, and have expressly reserved all legal rights,” said Toto Wolff. “Therefore we ask for your understanding that we will not be commenting officially for now, but we will certainly address the matter in due course.”

In a separate statement, Susie Wolff expressed her own anger about the handling of the matter and said she had been subjected to significant online abuse as a result of it — ironically on the same day the FIA released a report on its website proclaiming “alarming” results from a survey in which 90% of its member federations agree that sporting figures are at risk of withdrawing due to online abuse, with the governing body urging collaborative action to combat such abuse.

“When I saw the statement issued by the FIA yesterday evening, my first reaction was: ‘Is that it?'” she said. “For two days, insinuations have been made about my integrity in public and through background briefings, but nobody from the FIA has spoken to me directly.

“I might have been collateral damage in an unsuccessful attack on somebody else, or the target of a failed attempt to discredit me personally, but I have worked too hard to have my reputation called into question by an unfounded press release.

“I have received online abuse about my work and my family. I will not allow myself to be intimidated and intend to follow up until I have found out who has instigated this campaign and misled the media,”

Meanwhile, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem –whose relationship with FOM and Liberty Media had been tumultuous even before this latest incident — is receiving treatment in hospital after sustaining a concussion in a fall.

“Several days ago the president took ill and suffered a fall and concussion,” read a statement issued by an FIA spokesperson. “He received care in hospital and will make a full recovery.”

The exact timing of Ben Sulayem’s accident remains vague; however, he tweeted a video from the opening day of the 2023 FIA General Assemblies in Baku on Tuesday. That video has since been deleted.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem aims to make F1 cars lighter in 2026

Sulayem pointed to his rally car experience as a reason he aims to make F1 cars lighter in the future.

The weight of the current Formula 1 cars — and many generations before it — has been a subject of controversy among fans of motorsport. After many generations of F1 car, however, current FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) president [autotag]Mohammed Ben Sulayem[/autotag] intends to do something about it.

Sulayem spoke to German publication Motorsport Total and said that he aims to ensure that F1 cars become lighter in 2026. The engine regulations for 2026 have been set, but discussions about chassis regulations are continuing. Sulayem pointed to his rally car experience as a main reason he wants to ensure the change.

Here is what he said about the effect of heavier cars:

“I’ve driven rallies myself. Give me everything, but please no heavy car! That always bothered me. Lighter cars are better and I know what I’m talking about. If the weight is heavier, the suspension is compromised, the brakes don’t work as well, the tyres wear out more quickly. And more weight is more dangerous in a crash.”

As it stands, the current minimum weight for an F1 car is around 1759 lbs — about 437 pounds heavier than last year’s limit. Sulayem told Motorsport Total that he and his team with the FIA want a lighter chassis and better-sounding engines and that it is their decision on whether to implement these things whether F1 president Stefano Domenicali wants to do so or not.

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