FIA president proposes changes to increase control – report

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is tabling revisions which seem to increase his overall control on the running of the organisation, according to reports.

A document containing the details of the Emirati’s proposals has been obtained by BBC Sport, which will be voted on at its General Assembly next month.

Ben Sulayem has headed-up the sport’s governing body since 2021, replacing previous president and former Ferrari supremo Jean Todt.

It is another instance in which Ben Sulayem is facing accusations of trying to increase his stranglehold on power within the organisation, with his tenure already fraught with a mass of removals and resignations of individuals from high-ranking posts.

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The BBC’s report states that a number of people within the FIA refused to speak out on the matter due to being bound by non-disclosure agreements.

But two individuals, who were not named, did speak out, with one saying: “Most proposals aim at some sort of consolidation of power, more centralised control and trying to eliminate independent checks and balances.”

A second person observed that the document was “very cleverly written,” adding: “It’s taking a very moral high ground, or it’s appearing to. Whereas the reality of it is probably less so.”

Amendments could see Sainz challenge for presidency denied

One proposal is shortening the deadline for potential candidates to throw their hat into the ring for challenging Ben Sulayem’s presidency.

As well as this, Ben Sulayem would also be able to bar any persons from applying to run for president, and also see him take a further grip on membership of its own senate.

One line in the document reads that there “must not be anything in the record of the candidates standing for the election as members of the presidential list that calls into question their professional integrity”.

The document discloses that the reason for this regulation, should it be passed, is to establish criteria for any potential individuals to run, “for the sake of consistency.”

Candidates would be vetted by the FIA’s nominations committee, and any anomalies would be then transferred to its ethics committee.

Both these committees are run by Ben Sulayem, after statutes introduced last year ensured he would oversee control of them.

These proposals come just days after Carlos Sainz Sr was said to be keen on a run for president, with the elections currently scheduled for December.

The two-time World Rally Champion and two-time Dakar Rally winner has garnered support from some circles since the reports of his interest was made public.

However, some questions have been raised as to the suitability of Sainz being president, due to his son Carlos Jr being a current Formula 1 driver.

It could be suggested that Ben Sulayem’s suggested change might bar Sainz from challenging him to regain control of the organisation.

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