FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has strongly dismissed calls from Formula 1 drivers for greater transparency within the governing body, emphasizing that the FIA's internal operations are “none of their business.”
Ben Sulayem’s blunt remarks come in response to mounting criticism of his governance from the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, which has voiced its concerns over recent high-profile departures from the venerable institution and the decision-making processes within the FIA.
Last month, the GPDA penned a strongly-worded open letter to the FIA laying out its grievances, but the missive has gone unanswered, much to the chagrin of GPDA director George Russell.
Adding to the group’s concerns, the FIA opted – seemingly out of the blue – to dismiss F1 race director Niels Wittich ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. This was followed by the departures last week of senior steward Tim Mayer, and Deputy F2 Race Director Janette Tan.
“Just when we’ve asked for transparency and consistency, we’re getting rid of two highly important people in the governing body,” commented Russell ahead of last weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.
“It’s gone in full 360. We still don’t have any reasoning for Niels’ [Wittich] removal. I don’t think anybody was informed about Tim [Mayer] leaving.”
In an unambiguous response, Ben Sulayem, speaking to Motorsport.com, dismissed the GPDA's demands for transparency and insisted that drivers focus on their primary role – racing.
“None of their business, sorry” he replied when asked about the GPDA’s calls. “With all respect, I am a driver. I respect the drivers. Let them go and concentrate on what they do best, which is race.”
He further defended the FIA's allocation of resources, specifically addressing questions about the use of driver fines.
“But okay, you want to know how much we paid in grassroots? I’ll give you: 10.3 million [euro] we invested in grassroots last year. I think that’s a lot of money. In ’24, up to now, over 10 million back in grassroots. In karting.”
On the topic of recent staff changes, including the dismissal of Wittich and the appointment of Rui Marques as F1’s new race director, Ben Sulayem reiterated his position that the FIA’s decisions are solely its prerogative.
Marques, notably, had to oversee F1, Formula 2, and the F1 Academy simultaneously during the Qatar Grand Prix following the sudden departure of Tan.
“This is our business,” Ben Sulayem stated. “We’ll do whatever is good for the FIA. So it’s really none of people’s business to interfere in ours. It’s the results that we produce.”
Ben Sulayem rejected the notion that the FIA is obliged to provide detailed explanations to the teams or drivers, drawing a parallel with how teams conduct their internal affairs without FIA interference.
“Do we have to tell them? When something in the teams changes, do they tell us? No, they don’t. Nobody has to. We have the rules, we follow our rules. We don’t follow someone else’s rule. Simple as this.”
The rift between the FIA and F1 drivers reflects a broader struggle for alignment and collaboration in the sport’s governance.
While the FIA President has staunchly defended the independence and integrity of his organization, the lack of communication has left drivers and teams grappling with uncertainty, particularly when operational changes directly impact the racing environment.
As the 2024 F1 season approaches, the tensions between the FIA and the GPDA could shape the dynamics of the sport, with questions of governance and mutual respect taking center stage alongside the racing action.
Whether Ben Sulayem’s firm and uncompromising stance will quell or fuel the unrest remains to be seen.
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