Formula 1 teams are worried after it emerged the sport’s governing body, the FIA, plans to change rules to limit the ways in which its leadership can be held accountable. Sky Sports News has learned.
A vote will be held on December 13, after this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, to propose changes to the FIA’s statutes regarding control and ethics in the governing body.
The changes would mean the FIA’s ethics committee would now only carry out an initial assessment to determine whether an in-depth investigation is necessary. It will be FIA ​​president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Senate president Carmelo Sanz De Barros who will ultimately decide whether to take further action on any ethics complaints.
Sky Sports News has learned that the proposed changes have caused concern among senior members of F1 teams and members of the World Motor Sport Council – the body that includes some of F1’s other stakeholders.
Several senior F1 officials also said the proposals were at odds with the transparency and credibility the sport should display when it comes to moral or ethical issues.
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In an ‘unprecedented’ situation, all 20 F1 drivers have asked president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for his response to the recent swearing saga
said the FIA Sky Sports News: “It would not be appropriate to comment on proposals for changes to the constitution and, indeed, proposals of the World Council (Sports and Mobility) before they are submitted to the General Assembly or the members of the council.”
Ben Sulayem took over from Jean Todt as FIA president at the end of 2021 with a four-year term and is preparing for a second term, which starts in 12 months. He is currently officially unopposed ahead of the election in late 2025.
A tumultuous year for Ben Sulayem
Ben Sulayem has been surrounded by controversy this year after being accused by an FIA whistleblower of interfering in the outcome of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The 63-year-old was also accused of telling FIA officials not to certify the Las Vegas circuit for last year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. Both claims were dismissed.
He was criticized by Lewis Hamilton for using stereotypical language when he made a comparison to rappers in an interview where he spoke of wanting to see less bad words on the team’s radio. The FIA ​​declined to comment at the time.
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Max Verstappen gave a stunning press conference after qualifying in Singapore as he refused to answer questions in detail after a swearing.
In the past 12 months, the FIA ​​has parted company with 10 senior executives, including its sporting director, F1 technical director, digital director, head of commercial legal affairs, director of governance and regulatory affairs, director of racing, head of Committee of Women in Motorsport, General Secretary of Mobility and Director of Communications.
Most notably were race director Niels Wittich and top flight attendant Tim Mayer who were effectively sacked in November.
George Russell, who is the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), director said F1 drivers are “a bit fed up” with the FIA ​​and questioned who would be the next to be sacked.
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Mercedes’ George Russell believes FIA needs to be more transparent and consistent after recent sackings
Sky Sports F1 Abu Dhabi GP Live
Thursday, December 5
11:00: Drivers’ Press Conference
Friday, December 6
5.45am: F1 Academy practice
7am: F2 Training
9am: Abu Dhabi GP Practice One (session starts at 9.30am)*
10.55: Qualifying F2
12.45pm: Abu Dhabi GP Second Practice (session starts 1pm)*
14.30: F1 Academy Qualifying*
15.15: The F1 show*
Saturday, December 7
8.10am: F1 Academy Race One
10.15am: Third Abu Dhabi GP Practice (session starts at 10.30am)
12.10pm: F2 Sprint Race
13.15: Abu Dhabi GP Qualifiers set up
14:00: ABU DHABI GP QUALIFYING*
16:00: F1 Academy: Race two
5pm: Ted’s fitness notebook
Sunday, December 8
7.10am: F1 Academy Race Three
9.20am: F2 Feature Race
11.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Abu Dhabi GP Practice
13:00: ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
15:00: Checkered Flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction
16:00: Ted’s notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Watch the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – live this week on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s race at 1pm. Get Sky Sports F1 or stream with NOW
