Ahead of Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix, the Emirati advised the drivers should stick to what they know best. After asking by Formula One drivers to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem that where money from race fines was going and why senior figures had left the governing body he has told to mind their own business.
In an interview with Reuters, the Emirati suggested the drivers should stick to what they know best.
Ben Sulayem told when asked about the surprise departure of race director Niels Wittich before last weekend’s title-deciding Las Vegas Grand Prix “Do we have to tell them? When something in the teams changes, do they tell us?”
“We have the rules, we follow our rules. We don’t follow someone else’s rule. Simple as this.”
Most significant Steward Tim Mayer, the son of former McLaren boss Teddy, and Formula Two race director Janette Tan have also gone in recent days.
A director of the Grand Prix Driver’s Association (GPDA), Mercedes driver George Russell, told on Thursday drivers wanted clarity and understanding “of what’s going on and who’s getting fired next”.
Ben Sulayem, who was a former rally driver and elected as FIA head in 2021, replied by saying: “Do we tell them how to drive? Do we tell them what to have as their strategy?”
“It’s none of their business. Sorry…I am a driver. I respect the drivers. Let them go and concentrate on what they do best, which is race.”
Last month, in response to an FIA clampdown on swearing, The GPDA issued a amazing statement, in which they asked Ben Sulayem to treat them like adults and mind his own language towards them.
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
They also appealed financial transparency and told all the stakeholders, including drivers and teams, should jointly determine how and where the money from fines was spent—with some suggesting it could help fund professional stewards.
” They talk and then they say, where are you putting the money? why we don’t do this? I don’t say ‘Oh, sorry, what about you?,” said Ben Sulayem.
“The drivers are getting over 100 million. Do I ask where they spend it? No. It’s up to them. If’s their right…. we do whatever we do with the money. It’s our business. It’s also with and their money. It’s their business.”
Ben Sulayem told the drivers had his mobile number and he had nothing to hide. He also rejected any suggestion that the FIA was in crisis and suffering a staff evacuation under his leadership.
Ben Sulayem told in 2023, 64 employees had joined the FIA and 92 in 2024.
” I have been elected to fix the FIA. and I am fixing it. I am very happy with our new team. Very happy.”
” I inherited an FIA with an operating cost of -23 million euros And where is it now? This will be the first year that we are plus.”
