Amidst a tumultuous backdrop, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is staunchly defending himself and the institution he leads against what he perceives as concerted efforts to undermine his position. Accusations have been flying, suggesting that there are those within the Formula 1 ecosystem actively seeking to “destabilise me,” according to Ben Sulayem’s own words.
This saga is set against the backdrop of an apparent power tussle that has surfaced since Ben Sulayem took the helm. The dynamic involves the FIA, Liberty Media—who holds the commercial rights to F1—and several prominent racing teams. Allegations have emerged, including a whistleblower’s claim regarding Ben Sulayem’s supposed intervention in a steward’s decision at last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and an attempt to obstruct the approval of the new Las Vegas race circuit. Despite these claims, an FIA inquiry absolved Ben Sulayem of any misconduct, although the transparency of this investigation has been openly questioned by multiple team leaders in the sport.
“I think we’re living in 2024, not 1984, which means total transparency,” asserted McLaren CEO Zak Brown in Melbourne, echoing a widespread demand for clarity and openness within the sport’s governance.
In a further twist, Mercedes team principal and co-owner Toto Wolff has become embroiled in a legal battle in France, prompted by allegations from Ben Sulayem of improper information sharing facilitated by Wolff’s wife, Susie, in her capacity with the F1-affiliated F1 Academy series. Toto Wolff, while in Melbourne, conveyed to De Telegraaf that the attacks seemed aimed at him but inadvertently entangled Susie, causing significant damage to her reputation—a battle she has tirelessly fought to uphold throughout her life. She is now determined not to let this incident tarnish her name, underpinned by Wolff’s statement, “Her reputation has been tarnished – something she had to fight all her life for. So she will not accept that one statement and then thousands of articles will destroy that.”
Amid these controversies, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton disclosed that he “never has” supported Ben Sulayem, intensifying the scrutiny on the FIA president’s leadership.
In a bold move, Ben Sulayem has circulated a letter among hundreds of FIA members, decrying the attempts to “destabilise me” and cast doubts on “the integrity of our respected organisation.” He describes this period as marked by unparalleled upheaval, one that has “shaken the FIA” to its core. Despite these challenges, Ben Sulayem affirms, “These events have unfolded with one clear objective – to target the very heart of our leadership and undermine the foundation of our federation.” Yet, he remains defiant, proclaiming that the organization has only grown stronger and more unified in the face of these adversities. “Yet, despite these attacks aimed at my character and our organisation as a whole, we have emerged stronger and more resolute than ever,” Ben Sulayem declares.
GMM
