F1 News: FIA Releases Statement Following Mohammed Ben Sulayem Controversy
The FIA has publicly addressed accusations against its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, amidst allegations of race manipulation. These claims, centred around the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, have led to an official statement by the governing body.
Key Takeaways:
- A whistleblower alleged that Ben Sulayem attempted to interfere with the race outcome in Jeddah last year.
- Fresh claims have emerged accusing Ben Sulayem of trying to prevent the certification of the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit.
- The FIA's Compliance Officer is currently investigating these allegations to ensure proper due process.
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The FIA has been thrust into the spotlight following allegations against its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The controversy began when a whistleblower accused Ben Sulayem of attempting to meddle in the results of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The incident in question involved Fernando Alonso, who was initially given a 10-second time penalty for an infringement while already serving a five-second penalty. This decision was later reversed after Aston Martin lodged a protest, but subsequent reports have suggested Ben Sulayem's involvement in influencing the race's outcome.
The whistleblower claimed that Ben Sulayem contacted Abdullah bin Isa Al Khalifa, the FIA Vice-President for Sport in the Middle East and president of the Bahrain Motor Federation, urging him to have the decision overturned. This has raised questions about the integrity of the governing body and its commitment to fair play.
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Moreover, the controversy has deepened with new allegations surfacing regarding the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit. Reports indicate that Ben Sulayem instructed officials not to certify the circuit for its debut race, with instructions to find faults with the track, regardless of their validity.
In response to these serious accusations, the FIA has confirmed that its Compliance Officer is investigating the matter. The organisation emphasised the importance of following due process and expressed regret over the premature disclosure of the information to the media. An FIA spokesperson highlighted the concern and disappointment surrounding the inaccurate reporting of the issue.
While the FIA has not provided specific details regarding the allegations or confirmed an ongoing compliance investigation into Ben Sulayem, the situation has undeniably cast a shadow over the sport's governing body.
The statement reads:
“Compliance Officer has received a report detailing potential allegations involving certain members of its governing bodies.
“The Compliance Department is assessing these concerns, as is common practice in these matters, to ensure that due process is meticulously followed.
“It is unfortunate and a source of great concern that the matter has been disclosed to the media without any prior authorisation and that certain elements of the report were inaccurately reported.”