Motor racing-FIA head Ben Sulayem cleared of interference in F1 races (updated)

Liberty Media

20/03/2024 17:34

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      FIA ethics committee finds no evidence against Emirati
    

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      Ben Sulayem faces whistleblower allegations
    

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      Last year's Las Vegas and Saudi races were in the
spotlight
    

  
 (Adds background)
    By Alan Baldwin
       March 20 (Reuters) - 
    FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been cleared of
interfering in last year's Formula One races in Saudi Arabia and
Las Vegas, the sport's governing body said on Wednesday after
investigating whistleblower claims.
        The Emirati had faced accusations he sought to prevent
circuit approval ahead of the showcase Las Vegas Grand Prix and
had allegedly interfered in the outcome of the Saudi round in
Jeddah.
    The FIA said in a statement its compliance department,
supported by external advisors, had investigated the claims 
thoroughly.
    The independent investigation took 30 days to complete and
included interviews with 11 witnesses.
        "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," the FIA said.
    It added that "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."
        Ben Sulayem was accused of interfering with a stewards’
decision, resulting in the reversal of a penalty and the
reinstatement of Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso to third place
in Jeddah.
  
        The FIA president was also said to have wanted to
withhold a licence for the inaugural night-time Las Vegas race.
In the end, the certification was completed and approved in good
time.
  
        The race last November was a pillar of Liberty
Media-owned Formula One's efforts to promote the sport in a key
U.S. market where it has enjoyed rapid growth.
  
        The FIA said Ben Sulayem's complete co-operation,
transparency and compliance through the investigation was
"greatly appreciated."
  
        Ben Sulayem was elected in December 2021, succeeding
Frenchman Jean Todt, and his presidency has been marked by
clashes with Formula One in an apparent  power struggle with
money a key element.
  
        Formula One Management holds the 100-year commercial
rights to the championship, starting from 2001, while the FIA is
the sanctioning body responsible for rules and safety as well as
technical staff.
  
        Formula One's top lawyer wrote to the FIA a year ago
accusing the Emirati of "unacceptable" interference in the
commercial rights after he questioned a reported $20 billion
valuation of the sport.
  
        The two sides are also at odds over a potential 11th
team, with Ben Sulayem supportive of a U.S.-based
Andretti-Cadillac entry and Formula One ruling it out until at
least 2028.
  
        An FIA compliance enquiry into Mercedes team boss Toto
Wolff and his wife Susie, who runs the all-female F1 Academy
series, was swiftly shelved this year amid general uproar that
it had ever been raised.
  

 (Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Christian
Radnedge and Toby Davis)
 ((alan.baldwin@thomsonreuters.com; +442075427933;))