Perhaps any sports governing body is best appreciated when it is seen rather than heard, the quiet hand that guides the ship in the recognition of participants and fans but the lack of dissatisfaction, criticism, public displeasure and public acknowledgment Confidence obviously leads to trouble. The latter swept the paddock with a disastrous abandonment in this week’s Formula 1 race – with F1’s governing body, the FIA, appearing to have lost the dressing room.
Heading into this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, the FIA may have believed that a relatively simple weekend in the Melbourne sunshine was possible. It may have been expected that the statement that company president Mohammed bin Sulayem was not guilty of alleged interference in two grands prix, but did not provide any details of the above-mentioned investigation, its findings or conclusions will be incorporated into the surrounding Christian Ho In the dispute between Na and Red Bull.
It’s unlucky, and it’s a judgment call on every aspect, so to speak. Instead, the FIA has become the subject of a series of scathing prosecutions, as the embattled organization finds its every action and virtual inaction under intense scrutiny.
On Wednesday, just hours after news of Ben Sulayem’s acquittal, Susie Wolff, managing director of the all-female F1 Academy series, said she was bringing an interest against the FIA A criminal complaint was filed against her husband, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, in December last year. The allegations were found to have no basis in fact and neither party had a reason to answer.
Wolfe is angry about the reputational damage caused by the incident and what she sees as intimidation and misogyny. To make matters worse, the FIA has not explained why it launched the investigation, which appears to have been triggered by an unconfirmed media report or its findings and conclusions.
She has received support and sympathy from the entire paddock, and in Australia her husband succinctly summed up the importance of that, in the latest of what has been a flood of criticism from the FIA since Wednesday.
“The most important thing for her is to find out what happened, hold people accountable and accountable and things don’t get swept under the rug,” he said. “As a sport we need to do that in all areas, Whether it’s Susie’s situation or other teams’ situations.”
The day after Wolf informed her of the legal action, Lewis Hamilton bluntly stated that he had never had confidence in Ben Sulayem. Perhaps it was the harshest rebuke ever because it came from the biggest and most famous driver in the sport. He criticized the lack of accountability within the FIA and the sport, pointing out that without accountability fans will lose trust in the way it operates.
The seven-time champion’s comments are not to be taken lightly and appear to have been brewing for a long time. Hamilton was targeted in a crackdown on wearing jewelery in cars in 2022, soon after Ben Sulayem took over the reins of the FIA. At the time it felt over the top, almost ridiculous, like a butterfly on a wheel. Hamilton called this foolish, and most drivers and observers agreed.
“It’s a small thing if you think about the steps we’ve taken as a sport and the bigger issues and causes we need to focus on,” he said at the impasse at that year’s Miami Grand Prix. .
It is worth noting that at the time he publicly stated that he believed he could work with bin Sulayem but was clearly very frustrated and his comments in Melbourne suggested that he was being diplomatic at best. Two years later, his patience was clearly running out.
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He is not alone. On Friday, the blows kept coming. At the team principals’ press conference, all but one of the questions related to the FIA; its accountability, transparency, fitness for purpose and whether anyone has confidence in its processes, which dominate the process. factor.
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown also echoed calls of dissatisfaction. When the FIA did their homework on the investigation into Ben Sulayem, he pointedly pointed out that they didn’t even show their work. “Whether it’s the front end or the back end, we don’t get any explanation,” he said.
“We live in 2024, not 1984, and that means full transparency,” he added. “Everyone wants these different themes [be resolved to] Allowing us to get back into motorsport, but I think people will continue to ask questions until all the unanswered questions are answered. “
All of this pressure falls squarely on Ben Sulayem, whose presidency has already been marked by controversy and conflict and whose status will be called into question by events this weekend.
However, by the end of Friday’s race, the FIA had not reacted to Wolff’s legal action, Hamilton’s comments or criticism of their own investigation and the fundamental uneasiness raised by the three about the organization and the FIA. Questions to leave any comments. The way it works. The coach was silent, with a haggard look on his face, retreating to the dugout as his team paraded past with disdain while another crucial six slipped away.
