F1 Chief Faces Probe for Alleged Race Result Interference

A cloud of controversy looms over the pinnacle of motorsport as Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), finds himself embroiled in an investigation following accusations of meddling in the outcome of a Formula One race.

The incident in question unfolded during the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when Fernando Alonso, representing Aston Martin, incurred a penalty mid-race, only for the decision to reverse it to spark a cascade of scrutiny reaching the highest echelons of F1.

According to reports by the BBC, an FIA compliance officer has forwarded allegations to the group’s ethics committee, asserting Sulayem’s involvement in influencing race results. It is purported that Sulayem contacted Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, FIA’s vice president for sport in the Middle East and North Africa, in an attempt to overturn Alonso’s penalty.

Alonso had initially received a 10-second penalty for maintenance work on his car while already serving a five-second penalty for positioning his car outside his designated starting box on the race grid. The ensuing controversy saw Alonso’s demotion from third to fourth place, only for the penalty to be rescinded, reinstating him on the podium. The report from the ethics officer cites a whistleblower alleging Sulayem’s expectation for stewards to reverse Alonso’s penalty.

This isn’t Sulayem’s first brush with controversy since assuming office in December 2021. Throughout 2022, his leadership sparked widespread concern, with calls for his replacement mounting. His tenure saw a six-month blockage of an agreement between teams and a commercial rights holder, which aimed to increase the number of sprint weekends for ’23. Additionally, Sulayem drew ire from F1’s legal representatives after publicly reacting to reports suggesting Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund sought to acquire the league for $20 million.

The ethics committee is anticipated to deliver its verdict on the matter in April, as the F1 community awaits with bated breath, pondering the implications of these allegations on the integrity of the sport.