The FIA has begun proceedings to change the way it handles ethics complaints, amid recent investigations into the organisation and its President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The BBC has reported that the plans that are currently being put in place will see said complaints handled directly by Ben Sulayem and the present of its senate, Carmelo Sanz De Barros.
This means that, if the motion passes a vote at the FIA general assembly on December 13th, the current senate would be replaced, removing power from the audit committee for independent investigations, enhancing the president’s autonomy over the organisation, and essentially removing any authority from any body that can investigate any claims similar to those that have plagued Ben Sulayem in the last year.
The BBC reports that these have included “questions about the finances of Ben Sulayem’s private office; the establishment of a $1.5m “president’s fund” to pay member clubs, which vote for the FIA president.
“Neither of these were progressed. And two separate allegations that Ben Sulayem interfered in the operations of grands prix in 2023, which were dismissed.”
Those began with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, in which a whistleblower accused him or interfering in the outcome of the race, as well as an incident ahead of the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, in which he was accused of requesting FIA officials to not certify the circuit.
FIA controversies leaves organisation short on personnel
As a consequence many senior figures within the sport’s governing body have either resigned or lost their jobs. These include former race steward Tim Mayer, who claimed that notice of his sacking was made via text message.
Natalie Robyn, former chief executive officer, was also a casualty, along with the head of the audit committee, Bertrande Badre as well as member Tom Purves.
Paolo Basarri, who was compliance officer, was also removed.
Other recent departures have included Race Director Niels Wittich, who was replaced by Formula 2 and Formula 3 Race Director Rui Marques.
The Spaniard’s replacement, Janette Tam, was sensationally fired before even taking charge of her first F2 race in Qatar, multiplying Marques’ weekend duties.
Another bone of contention involving Ben Sulayem this year has been the tweaking of the FIA’s rules on drivers using swear words.
When Article 12.2.1k of the sporting code was amended, World Champion Max Verstappen was the first victim, being given a one-day community service order for swearing in a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix.
After this incident, and with Charles Leclerc being fined for swearing at the Mexican Grand Prix, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association issued a frank statement rebuking the ruling, urging Ben Sulayem to “consider his own tone and language.”
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