FIA president axes another key individual – The revolving door that is the exit to the Place de Concorde continues to spin as more individuals leave Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s FIA. Prior to the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix, the F1 race director of three years was dismissed with just three races of the season remaining. He was replaced by F2/3 race director Rui Marques who officiated the the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The president of the FIA is up for re-election next year and it appears as though he is cleaning house. Sporting director Steve Nielsen quit the organisation last December with Deborah Mayer – former head of the Commission for women – also leaving her role.

Tom Goss, the FIA’s single seater technical director left in January to join RB while CEO Natalie Robyn left her role after 18 months in May. Now a senior F1 steward of fifteen years has been sacked just weeks after F1 race director Neils Wittich.

 

 

 

Chief steward sacked

Tim Mayer spent 15 years as an unpaid steward in motor racing but has not been called up since last month’s Mexican Grand Prix. The chairman of the F1 stewards also has a role working for the promoters of the USGP in Austin, who were summoned by the FIA after fans invaded the circuit following the chequered flag.

The Daily Mail reported soon after that comments emanating from the US promoters had upset the Emerati executive Ben Sulayem. The former middle east regional rally driver champion was swept to power as Jean Todt’s replacement on the wave of popular support form the 243 national member organisations.

Ben Sulayem is there first FIA president since the election of Jean- Marie Balestre in the 1980’s who does not have a Formula One background, hence his popularity with member associations who feel the sport dominates the FIA’s attention.

The incumbent president came to power on the eve of the 2021 controversy in Abu Dhabi where race director Michael Massi gave a new interpretation of the safety car regulations to ensure the season and the drivers’ championship did not finish under a safety car. Uproar from Mercedes ensued with neither Toto Wolff or Lewis Hamilton attending the mandatory end of season FIA gala for which the pair were duly fined.

Bottas surprise career options

 

 

 

Jewellery and underwear clampdown

Soon after his election, Ben Sulayem began a campaign to ensure F1 regulations were being properly enforced. His subsequent war on them wearing jewellery – a regulation of more than ten years standing – forced him into confrontation with Lewis Hamilton. Also banned was ‘lucky’ underwear in favour of the FIA approved clothing.

Mercedes were subsequently fined for failing to properly monitor and record Hamilton’s attire when in the car and Lewis produced a sick note saying it would be damaging to his heath were he have to remove his nose pin.

Recently Ben Sulayem called on the race stewards to clamp down on the drivers’ use of bad language. He used the analogy of rappers who he believes swear persistently, something which Lewis Hamilton described as a racist trope.

Yet at his bid and call the race stewards next time out in Singapore sanctioned Max Verstappen making an example of him by issuing a headline grabbing penalty of community service for his transgression. Max dutifully responded by refusing to properly answer questions at the next FIA approved press conference, telling the F1 journalists present he would hold court with them outside on neutral territory.

Statement on Perez from Marko

 

 

 

Ben’s beef with Liberty

Ben also has a long standing beef with the F1 commercial rights owners, Liberty Media, following his response to an article early in 2023 suggesting they were negotiating with the Saudi’s to sell their rights for some $20bn, which they acquired from CVC partners n 2017 for less than a quarter of that sum.

The FIA president warned a $20bn sale price could have negative consequences for the sport. “As the custodians of motorsport, the FIA, as a non-profit organisation, is cautious about alleged inflated price tags of $20bn being put on F1,” he wrote on social media.

“Any potential buyer is advised to apply common sense, consider the greater good of the sport and come with a clear, sustainable plan – not just a lot of money.

“It is our duty to consider what the future impact will be for promoters in terms of increased hosting fees and other commercial costs, and any adverse impact that it could have on fans.”

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F1 threatens FIA president

Of course this created a furious reaction from the Liberty Media appointed F1 officers, who responded with a cease and desists legal order. A letter from representatives of the American based media giant was obtained by the BBC which reminded the FIA that they were the custodians of a 100-year deal to the F1 series and that the sports governing body “has given unequivocal undertakings that it will not do anything to prejudice the ownership, management and/or exploitation of those rights”.

The letter insisted Ben Sulayem’s comments “interfere with those rights in an unacceptable manner”. It added that the implication “that any potential purchaser of the F1 business is required to consult with the FIA is wrong”.

“Any individual or organisation commenting on the value of a listed entity or its subsidiaries, especially claiming or implying possession of inside knowledge while doing so, risks causing substantial damage to the shareholders and investors of that entity, not to mention potential exposure to serious regulatory consequences,” it added.

“To the degree that these comments damage the value of Liberty Media Corporation, the FIA may be liable as a result.”

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Elections coming in 2025

F1 folk will hope next year’s election sees the FIA member associations appoint a new president who understands the business of Formula One and the vital role it plays funding the FIA. Yet should the members back their candidate again, Ben Sulayem has a potential two more four year terms ahead of him.

Soon after the row over the $20bn sale price, it emerged that Mohamed Ben Sulayem had made comments 20 years earlier which appeared to demean his view of women.

Personally addressing the remarks for the first time, Ben Sulayem said: “What did I say, if I said it? Let’s assume it was [me]. I tell you exactly what it said. It says: ‘I hate when women think they are smarter than us’. But they hate when men think they are smarter than them.”

The comments were not publicly available and reportedly from a website which is no longer visible on the internet. The tension between the FIA and the sport’s commercial rights holders was established by a ruling from the EU Commission which insisted a division of roles be enforced.

The FIA have the sole responsibility for regulating Formula One, whilst the commercial rights holders have the sole rights to monetise the sport. With the constituencies of the FIA being so disparate, should be Sulayem play the F1 strong man role in the up coming elections, he may well again appeal to those members who believe F1 improperly dominates their global motorsports association.

Verstappen camp issues threat to Red Bull

 

 

 

Historic European circuit to get shortened contract

This season two circuits entered the final year of their F1 contracts, but both Silverstone and Suzuka have now renewed into the future. The home of the first ever Formula One race in 1950 has agreed a new ten year deal which will see racing in the Northamptonshire countryside well into the next decade.

Suzuka meanwhile agreed only a five year deal, which is usually as sign F1 is demanding medium term improvements of the circuit. In a recent call with Liberty Media investors, F1’s CEO Stefano Domenicali claimed big changes were coming to the F1 calendar.

“For ’26 and beyond, we will have some news to share very, very soon regarding the possibility, in the mid-term, to rotate some European grands prix, and some other new options coming later. This is something we will clarify in due course.”… READ MORE