F1 News: FIA Delivers Verdict Of Ben Sulayem Investigation Into Alleged Race Interference
The FIA's Compliance Department has concluded its investigation into allegations against President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, finding no evidence of misconduct. The inquiry was sparked by accusations of undue influence in Formula 1 events last year.
Key Takeaways:
- FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem was exonerated by the Ethics Committee after allegations of meddling in F1 races.
- Investigations focused on two incidents: the reversal of a penalty for Fernando Alonso and the certification of the Las Vegas track.
- The exhaustive 30-day inquiry involved 11 witness interviews, affirming Ben Sulayem's innocence.
Red Bull Content Pool
The world of Formula 1 witnessed a whirlwind of controversy following accusations against FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem for purported interference in the sport's governance.
The allegations, brought forward by an anonymous whistleblower, centered around two pivotal events in the 2023 racing calendar. The first incident pertained to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where it was alleged that Ben Sulayem influenced the decision-making process to overturn a penalty issued to driver Fernando Alonso. The second controversy involved the FIA's approval process for the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit, with claims that Ben Sulayem sought to hinder its certification.
Following these allegations, the FIA's Compliance Department, under the scrutiny of its six-member Ethics Committee, launched a thorough investigation to unearth the truth. This 30-day probe, encompassing interviews with 11 key witnesses, sought to clarify Ben Sulayem's involvement in these matters. The FIA released the following statement:
“After reviewing the results of the inquiries, the Ethics Committee were unanimous in their determination that there was no evidence to substantiate allegations of interference of any kind involving the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“Allegations against the FIA president were unsubstantiated and strong evidence beyond any reasonable doubt was presented to support the determination of the FIA Ethics Committee.
“The president’s complete co-operation, transparency, and compliance throughout the process during this investigation was greatly appreciated.”
Mohammed Ben Sulayem also commented:
“The president of the FIA is the one who signs the homologation for the new track, or for all the tracks. I supported it.
“I could have said no, [because it wasn’t ready in time for inspection]. But as soon as my team said it was safe... because I’m a driver, I care about the wellbeing of the drivers and the people around them, our staff and the marshals. I did it.
“It was a big thing. If I had said no, it would have been disastrous [for F1]. But it would have been legal. But I’m careful because I love the sport.”