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BBC reporter Andrew Benson says “a number of sources” said that Formula 1 could “consider breaking away from the FIA” if FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem continued to act in “detrimental” way.
After the FIA announced they have opened an investigation into Toto and Susie Wolff’s potential conflict of interest, many reports said that this course of action was pushed by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
At first it was reported that that the issue was originally raised by certain F1 team principals, but every F1 team has since denied this in a coordinated statement.
Furthermore, Formula 1 has completely denied the allegations against the Wolffs, and even stated the FIA did not inform them that an investigation would be opened.
This has now led to many observers and insiders questioning what actually prompted the FIA to start looking at the issue.
Sky Sports’ Craig Slater has stated in his report that “senior figures” from Mercedes believe the FIA’s motive is to cause “reputational damage” to their brand, and now BBC’s Andrew Benson reports his sources say Formula 1 and Liberty Media are very concerned about Ben Sulayem’s actions in recent months.
“The controversy comes in the wake of worsening relations between F1 and the FIA on a number of fronts,” Benson wrote.
“FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said in February that he was stepping back from direct involvement in F1, a move that came after a series of controversies since he was elected president in December 2021.
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“These included receiving a ‘cease and desist’ letter from F1’s lawyers following his reaction on social media to a story claiming Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund had tried to buy the sport for $20bn, and the emergence of a historic website that appeared to suggest he had made misogynistic remarks.
“He has sought to clarify the remarks in an interview with the Press Association.
“But insiders say Ben Sulayem is as heavily involved in F1 matters as ever, and F1 teams have viewed a series of incidents in recent months as having a direct link to Ben Sulayem.
“These include re-investigating Lewis Hamilton crossing the track during the Qatar Grand Prix, and calling Wolff and Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur to the stewards at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi after they swore in a news conference at the previous race in Las Vegas.
“A number of sources told BBC Sport at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last month that if Ben Sulayem continued to act in a manner senior figures considered to be detrimental to the sport, F1 owners Liberty Media would lose patience and consider breaking away from the FIA.
“This was already considered by F1 last year before relations between the two parties were smoothed over,” the Briton concluded.
