Motor racing-FIA head faces more whistleblower allegations

Liberty Media

05/03/2024 17:43

By Alan Baldwin
       LONDON, March 5 (Reuters) - The president of Formula
One's governing body, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, faced accusations on
Tuesday that he had sought to prevent circuit approval for last
year's showcase Las Vegas Grand Prix.
    The BBC said the claim, made by a whistleblower, appeared in
a report it had seen and which was submitted by the FIA's
compliance officer to an ethics committee.
    A spokesperson for the FIA responded by saying that "from a
sporting and safety perspective, the Las Vegas circuit approval
followed FIA protocol in terms of inspection and certification.
    "There was a delay in the track being made available for
inspection due to ongoing local organiser construction works."
    The night-time 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 BBC said the whistleblower referred to a manager acting
"on behest of the FIA president" and seeking "some concerns to
prevent the FIA from certifying the circuit before the weekend
of the race".
    It said the whistleblower claimed "issues on the circuit
were meant to be artificially identified regardless of their
actual existence, with the ultimate goal of withholding the
licence."
    Officials were unable to find any concerns, however, and the
circuit was certified.
    The allegation came a day after the BBC reported Ben
Sulayem, who was elected at the end of 2021, was being
investigated for allegedly interfering in the outcome of last
year's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
    The FIA spokesperson confirmed on Monday that "the matter is
being discussed internally".
    Ben Sulayem's presidency has been marked by clashes with
Formula One in what has been portrayed as a power struggle
between the two 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 sent a letter to the FIA a year ago
accusing Ben Sulayem of interfering in the commercial rights "in
an unacceptable manner" after he questioned a valuation of the
sport.      
    The two sides have also been at loggerheads 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.
    Another flashpoint was a compliance enquiry into Mercedes
team boss Toto Wolff and his wife Susie, which was quickly
shelved amid general uproar.

 (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis)
 ((alan.baldwin@thomsonreuters.com; +442075427933;))