► FIA feuds behind the scenes could wreck F1
► Mohammed Ben Sulayem running unapposed for re-election
► What might happen next?
Fears are growing that the world of motorsport is on the brink of new turmoil as exasperation continues to escalate over the state of its governance under the FIA and its controversial president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
You may well ask: ‘So what’s new?’ After all, the odd spot of bother between the FIA and motor racing’s key powerbrokers hasn’t exactly been uncommon since that arch autocrat Jean-Marie Balestre and a competitor faction led by Bernie Ecclestone went to war over the control of Formula 1 way back in 1981-82.
What’s significant now is that we haven’t witnessed current levels of unrest since the last days of Max Mosley’s rule, when the late son of 1930s fascist leader Oswald Mosley chose not to stand for re-election in 2009 in the wake of a tabloid sting involving colourful aspects of his private life. After the relative serenity of Jean Todt’s tenure as FIA president between 2009 and ’21, there’s an uneasy sense as Ben Sulayem serves the final year of his first term in office that the FIA has returned to the bad old days.
A string of troubling stories and episodes have peppered Emirati Ben Sulayem’s rule since he beat British barrister Graham Stoker in the last presidential election in December 2021. Historic comments regarding his views on women, a high-handed approach in F1 matters and an unfortunate habit in senior staff retention at the FIA has made this a chequered time within the Paris-based governing body.
Recent changes in the FIA statutes reducing accountability and a clampdown on the behaviour of racing drivers has further undermined confidence. The hard line over F1 and World Rally stars swearing in public has particularly induced a degree of ridicule, with drivers in both codes expressing their frustration at the ruling. Then after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen – who has previously served the equivalent of motorsport community service for swearing in a press conference – refused to comment on his obvious annoyance over an in-race penalty. What he did say suggested he was concerned at the potential consequences of expressing his view. ‘You can’t share your opinion because it’s not appreciated apparently, or people can’t handle the full truth,’ he said. ‘Honestly, it’s better if I don’t say too much.’
The level of exasperation has been best expressed by Prodrive founder David Richards (pictured above), in his capacity as chairman of British governing body Motor Sport UK. Richards went public on his concern via an incendiary open letter to MSUK members in March after he was one of a number of FIA members barred from a World Council meeting in February when he refused to sign a new non-disclosure agreement to prevent leaks to the media.
Richards wrote about an ‘erosion of accountability and good governance within the FIA’, despite having backed Ben Sulayem over Stoker during the 2021 election. In his letter, the 72-year-old pointed out three key promises the president had made: to take a ‘hands-off’, non-executive approach to the role; to appoint an ’empowered and capable’ CEO to run the FIA to professional standards; and for ‘full transparency of actions and the highest standards of sporting governance’.
Richards wrote: ‘I’m afraid that over the last three years there has been a distinct failure to meet these promises. In fact, the situation has progressively worsened, with media reports confirming that numerous senior members of the FIA and volunteer officials have either been fired or have resigned under an opaque cloud.’
The new confidentiality agreement, beyond one all World Council members had previously signed, was the ‘final straw’ which Richards labelled a ‘gagging order’.
The FIA responded more than a month later, via a letter sent by FIA general manager Alberto Villarreal, who dismissed Richards’ criticism. ‘We struggle to understand your reluctance to be bound by the same terms and conditions as your fellow members, given you acknowledge the damage the numerous leaks from the World Motor Sport Council have made to the FIA’s mission,’ he wrote. ‘Under the leadership of its President, the FIA is delivering a lasting and positive legacy in support of the Federation’s global mission.’
Nevertheless, a few days later another senior official and previous key ally to the president resigned from his position. Robert Reid, former co-driver to the late WRC champion Richard Burns, served as Ben Sulayem’s deputy president for sport, but stepped down citing ‘a fundamental breakdown in governance standards within motorsport’s global governing body.’ Reid too had refused to sign the new confidentiality agreement and had been barred from the World Council meeting. In his statement, he expressed a ‘growing alarm over critical decisions being made without due process or proper consultation’.
He added: ‘When I took on this role, it was to serve the FIA’s members, not to serve power. Over time, I have witnessed a steady erosion of the principles we promised to uphold. Decisions are being made behind closed doors, bypassing the very structures and people the FIA exists to present.’
The FIA has since put forward another leading rally figure, M Sport Ford chief Malcolm Wilson, as Reid’s surprise replacement.
Beyond the perceived lack of democratic process in governance, even the FIA’s critics accept that under Ben Sulayem progress in key areas has been made. A focus on the role of women in motorsport and strategies to encourage a wider diversity of participation from racing’s grassroots and beyond are among the FIA’s recent success stories. Also, as Villarreal pointed out, ‘the FIA has made remarkable strides improving the financial performance… to ensure the long-term sustainability of motorsport and mobility. The financial turnaround is evident, with a projected €2.2 million improvement in 2024 compared to the €24 million deficit that the President inherited in 2021.’
The question now is, will Ben Sulayem face a serious challenge to his re-election hopes when FIA members cast their votes again in December? This doesn’t look likely, given none of Ben Sulayem’s opponents seem to qualify for new rulings surrounding the appointment of a full deputy team at the point of announcing their entry.
Whoever steps up, it won’t be Richards. Even if he had aspirations to be president, which he has always denied, that change made to the FIA statutes last year which stops anyone over 70 putting themselves forward for the role has ruled him out. It is said the change was nicknamed as ‘David’s rule’ by FIA insiders.
Even if a strong candidate is put up, there are no guarantees he or she would defeat Ben Sulayem. If the president wins a second term, critics fear a parallel to President Trump’s so-far ‘eventful’ return to power in the United States. For example, Ben Sulayem has made it clear he favours a return to naturally-aspirated V10 engines for F1 beyond the next generation of hybrid powertrains set for introduction next year. That is likely to put the FIA on a collision course with Liberty Media-run F1.
Key stakeholders in F1 have been careful to avoid direct conflict with the president, who like Trump appears brittle to public criticism, to avoid rocking the boat in what has been a time of healthy growth for grand prix racing. But if Ben Sulayem believes he has full control over F1’s future direction, a return to the stormy days of Balestre could well be on the horizon.