FIA President steps down from active role in F1 amid controversy

In a surprise move, FIA President Mohammed ben Sulayem has decided to relinquish hands-on control of Formula 1 according to Sportsmail.

This marks a significant shift in the leadership of the sport and has raised questions about the future of the current president.

Ben Sulayem, former rally champion from the United Arab Emirates and one of the most powerful figures in motorsport, made the unexpected concession in a letter sent to team principals on Monday afternoon.

Although he remains the president of the FIA, he faces an uphill battle to extend his term beyond the current four-year tenure.

The 61-year-old has come under fire for his controversial remarks and grandstanding approach, and it seems that opposition from both inside the FIA and within Formula 1 has increased since he took over as president from former Ferrari boss Jean Todt in December 2021.

Key allies have taken ben Sulayem to task over his approach, and it appears that he has acknowledged these realities, as evidenced by the letter seen by Sportsmail in which he stated:

"My stated objective was to be a non-executive president via the recruitment of a team of professional managers, which has now been largely completed."

This move by ben Sulayem has raised questions about the future of Formula 1 leadership, as the FIA remains the governing body of the sport.

The announcement has sparked discussions about the direction of Formula 1 and the priorities of the FIA in the years to come.

As the dust settles on this surprising development, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Formula 1 and the FIA.

Nevertheless, this decision by ben Sulayem marks a significant moment in the history of the sport and highlights the ongoing challenges and changes that the FIA faces in its efforts to guide Formula 1 into the future.