Crunch day for controversial FIA vote

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem will discover today if changes to the motorsport federation’s statutes will be approved.

The FIA General Assembly will convene in Kigali, Rwanda, ahead of the prize-giving ceremony, where members will vote on the proposals.

Alterations would restrict the ethics and audit committees’ control and reduce the responsibilities of the compliance officer, which would see powers delegated to the FIA president and the president of its senate, rather than the senate itself.

It would also remove the power of the audit committee to investigate financial issues independently.

It comes after Ben Sulayem was investigated – and cleared – by the ethics committee earlier this year following claims made by a whistleblower that he interfered in the outcome of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The details, first revealed by the BBC, also say the audit committee would no longer be required to be involved in the closing of the FIA’s accounts, and that it was up to “the president of the senate to consult the committee if they deem it necessary”.

Serval key F1 figures have privately raised their concerns to Motorsport.com about the changes, which would ultimately weaken independent investigations within the organisation and would change the way the FIA’s leadership would be made accountable for its governance.

David Richards and Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Former BAR F1 team boss, David Richards, who is the UK’s representative on the World Motor Sport Council, told the BBC he was “concerned that major organisations around the world would refuse to work with the FIA if it did not reflect the highest standards of corporate governance, as befits our sport”.

Richards also said that he hoped the FIA would rethink its plans to make changes to its governance.

Ahead of today’s decision, the head of Austria’s motorsport federation admitted he was “saddened” by the proposed changes.

Oliver Schmerold, the chief executive officer of the OAMTC, told the BBC that it would be “not good governance” and “not good in terms of checks and balances”.

In what would be a blow to those who are opposed to the changes, Schmerold added that, despite telling Ben Sulayem about his reservations to the alterations to the governance structure, he expected his views were futile and that the changes would be approved by member clubs on Friday.

Should the proposals get given the green light, it would mean a power shift to the FIA president and the president of the senate, Carmelo Sanz De Barros.

Meanwhile, Ben Sulayem has responded to calls for professional race stewards by suggesting people wanting them should speak to Formula One Management [FOM]. This came after George Russell, who is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, said recently that it was time the FIA had full-time stewards.

Smoke fills the air as Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, at the start

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Ben Sulayem told Motorsport.com: “It’s very nice talk but when they say professional, and they want professional, they don’t want to pay for it. That is so obvious.

“They talk and then they say: ‘Where are you putting the money? Why we don’t do this?’ But I don’t say, ‘Oh, sorry, what about you?’ The drivers are getting over $100million. Do I ask where they spend it? No, it’s up to them. It’s their right.

“So please, it’s not only me saying it is none of their business. We do whatever we do with our money. It’s our business. It’s also [the same] with them and their money. It’s their business.

“But I don’t really sometimes understand. It’s always about the FIA. ‘Why are we doing this? Why are we doing that?’ But did anyone go to FOM?”