The International Automobile Federation (FIA), Formula One’s regulatory authority, has acknowledged the presence of a report concerning potential misconduct by certain members of its leadership, including its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The focus is on accusations that Ben Sulayem may have interfered with the results of the previous year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and attempted to obstruct the certification process for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The FIA released a statement confirming that its compliance officer had been given a report outlining these potential allegations against governing body members.
The compliance department is currently evaluating the claims to ensure adherence to due process, a standard procedure in such cases.
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A pivotal aspect of the controversy, as reported by the BBC, involves an incident at the 2023 Saudi Grand Prix where Ben Sulayem is accused of attempting to reverse a penalty against Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin.
This claim, attributed to an anonymous whistleblower, suggests Ben Sulayem contacted Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the FIA vice-president for the Middle East and North Africa, who was in Saudi Arabia at the time, advocating for the cancellation of Alonso’s penalty.
Alonso had received a 10-second penalty on top of an earlier five-second penalty, affecting his race position.
The revocation of this penalty reportedly restored Alonso to third place, behind the Red Bull racers Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen, raising questions about the integrity of the decision-making process.
Additionally, allegations surfaced that Ben Sulayem instructed officials not to certify the Las Vegas circuit for its Grand Prix.
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However, an FIA spokesperson defended the certification process, stating it adhered to FIA protocols concerning inspection and certification.
The spokesperson noted that inspection delays were due to construction works by local organizers, suggesting that the certification process was not influenced by inappropriate interventions.
These allegations have stirred controversy within the Formula One community, casting a shadow over the governance of the sport and raising questions about the impartiality and integrity of its leadership.