Jan.27 (GMM) Three well-known System 1 figures suppose the FIA underneath the controversial management of president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is a “mess”.
Final week, it emerged that Ben Sulayem’s clampdown on off-track dangerous behaviour – like swearing – has been supercharged for 2025, with drivers now going through as much as six-digit fines, month-long bans, and even factors deductions.
A spokesman for the Paris primarily based federation tried to minimize the ensuing furore, insisting the modifications are about “bettering the transparency and consistency of decision-making”.
He instructed Bild newspaper: “All main sports activities federations such because the NFL, FIFA and the IOC have related guidelines and fines to guard the integrity of the game.
“The FIA just isn’t the one federation that punishes opponents for misconduct.”
The Grand Prix Drivers’ Affiliation (GPDA), nevertheless, was scathing of the sooner measures late final yr, and even slammed the FIA for not disclosing what the fines are spent on.
FIA single seater boss Nikolas Tombazis insists that as a “non-profit organisation”, the FIA spends cash on security and grassroots applications and never “Christmas events or something like that”.
Nonetheless, up and down the paddock, Ben Sulayem’s management model has received him few pals. Even Haas group boss Ayao Komatsu admits his considerations.
“Please don’t write as a headline that ‘Ayao says the FIA is a multitude’,” he smiled, “however that’s what everybody thinks. That’s what everybody experiences.
“I don’t know what else to say. It’s not good, is it? However I don’t wish to become involved in that political battle.”
In accordance with two non-F1 drivers, the ‘mess’ extends past System 1. “In July they deliberate the System E race in Berlin and the 6 hours of Sao Paolo in the identical weekend,” driver and F1 pundit Robin Frijns instructed De Telegraaf newspaper, explaining that he must sit out one of many occasions.
“It’s very unlucky and I’m fairly indignant about that,” he added. “Up to now it was by no means actually an issue to plan the races correctly, however since Jean Todt left as president, it’s generally a multitude there.”
Nyck de Vries, who like Frijns is switching between System E and WEC, agrees.
“You may’t inform me that there was no solution to keep away from a conflict. I’m actually aggravated about it truly,” mentioned the previous F1 driver. “All of it appears utterly pointless to me.”
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