FIA Responds To Allegations Of Sexism And Bullying From President Ben Sulayem

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been hit with allegations of bullying and sexism, as reported exclusively by The Telegraph. Shaila-Ann Rao, who worked as an interim secretary general for motorsport, sent a letter to Sulayem and Carmelo Sanz de Barros, the president of the FIA Senate, outlining the alleged behaviour before she left the organisation in December. The claims were supported by current and former staff of the FIA, as confirmed by The Telegraph.

However, Rao has yet to comment on the matter. In response, an FIA spokesperson stated that Rao was a temporary director at the FIA from June 1 2022 and then became interim secretary general for motorsport. Both parties mutually agreed that she would leave that position in November 2022, and have agreed on mutual privacy terms, which are commonplace in business. Neither party has referred to the FIA Ethics Committee.

The allegations against Sulayem are not the first of their kind. Witnesses saw him shouting at Rao in the FIA paddock during the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix, and he has a history of similar allegations. A source reported to The Telegraph that Sulayem was condescending and unqualified towards Rao, and would often berate her in front of others.

“He was very condescending to her,” a source told the Telegraph. “I’ve had team principals call me who said ‘You should have seen how he treated Shaila-Ann’ and it was in front of other people. He would have a go at her in a very unqualified manner. That’s how he was. Shaila-Ann dared to say no in front of other people which seemed to trigger his behaviour.”

Sulayem has also faced controversies in his role with F1 since taking over from Jean Todt at the end of the 2021 season. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was a particularly controversial moment, and Sulayem's tweet about the value of F1, which is owned by Liberty Media, led to him being warned about potential liability for damages. In addition, drivers were told to limit their personal and political views, leading to criticism of Sulayem.

Despite the allegations against him, some have come forward to defend Sulayem. One source commented that his behaviour may be a result of cultural differences, while another acknowledged that Sulayem's bullying behaviour was not exclusive to women but still concerning.

While there may be two sides to this story, the fact remains that Sulayem is now under investigation, and a report will be sent to the senate which can decide to take further action. Sulayem has stepped back from F1 after his notable controversies, but he is expected to be at the paddock for the upcoming race weekend in Baku.

Now, the FIA has responded in full:

“There have been no complaints received against the president.

“The FIA takes allegations of abuse very seriously and addresses all complaints using robust and clear procedures.

“As part of this, the FIA has an anti-harassment policy, an anonymous whistleblowing facility and an investigation procedure and all staff are made aware of these through an induction and regular training.”