FIA President under investigation for alleged interference in F1 race result

FIA President in hot water

Mohammed Ben Sulayem is under investigation for allegedly interfering in a Formula 1 race result.

A whistleblower has reported Ben Sulayem for purportedly attempting to overturn a penalty imposed on Fernando Alonso during the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The Alonso penalty saga

During the Saudi race, Alonso received a 10-second penalty for work done on his Aston Martin car while serving an earlier 5-second penalty for an incorrect grid position.

The penalty dropped him from third to fourth place.

However, the stewards later overturned the decision, citing a lack of clarity in the rules regarding working on cars during pit stops.

Alleged interference claim

According to the report by FIA compliance officer Paolo Basarri, the whistleblower alleges that Ben Sulayem called Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the FIA's vice-president for the Middle East and North Africa region, and demanded the stewards revoke Alonso's penalty.

The FIA's ethics committee is expected to take four to six weeks to investigate the matter and issue its report.

Neither Ben Sulayem nor the FIA have responded to requests for comment on the allegations.

This latest controversy adds to a series of concerns raised by senior figures in Formula 1 regarding Ben Sulayem's leadership since his election in December 2021.

Issues ranging from blocking an agreement on increasing sprint races to alleged conflicts of interest and controversial remarks have plagued his tenure.

Las Vegas certification lobbying

The same whistleblower has accused Mohammed Ben Sulayem of directing officials not to certify the Las Vegas circuit for a Formula 1 race last year.

The allegations, revealed in a report seen by BBC Sport, suggest instructions were given to find faults with the circuit to prevent its approval, despite officials ultimately certifying it fit for the race.

The claims raise questions about Ben Sulayem's motives, amidst a backdrop of tension between the FIA and Formula 1's commercial rights holder, Liberty Media, which had invested significantly in the Las Vegas event.

The FIA issued a statement confirming its "Compliance Officer has received a report detailing potential allegations involving certain members of its governing bodies".

It added: "The Compliance Department is assessing these concerns, as is common practice in these matters, to ensure that due process is meticulously followed."

Resignations and Backlash

Several high-profile resignations from the FIA, including Steve Nielsen as sporting director and Gerd Ennser as an FIA steward, have fueled speculation about dissatisfaction within the organization.

Additionally, Ben Sulayem faced backlash from teams and F1 over the compliance inquiry into Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and his wife Susie, which was swiftly withdrawn.

As the investigation into the alleged interference unfolds, the FIA's credibility and Ben Sulayem's leadership will undoubtedly come under intense scrutiny from the Formula 1 community, which demands impartiality and transparency from the sport's governing body.