One week from end of the investigation carried out against the Red Bull Team Principal, Christian Horner, a new scandal bursts onto the scene. At the center of the cyclone the president of the FIA, I'm Sulayem, under investigation for having interfered with the outcome of the race Formula 1 in Jeddah. His accusations don't stop there. There is in fact another issue that has come to light in the last few hours and which still concerns Ben Sulayem. This time in correlation with the new entry in the Formula 1 calendar of last season, that is the Las Vegas GP. The accusations coming from the same source as the facts in Jeddah, this time speak for themselves of the attempt by the president to hinder the smooth running of the Grand Prix with security quibbles.
FIA President Sulayem under investigation for interfering with Jeddah 2023 results
In second race weekend this 2024, the track's action has once again been overshadowed by the shadow of an investigation, this time into FIA president Sulayem for interfering with the results of Jeddah 2023.
According to what was reported by the "BBC", Mohammed Ben Sulayem he would have called, on the occasion of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalif – FIA vice president for sport in the Middle East and North Africa. In such a call he would have insisted to cancel the penalty given to Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso.
During that competition they were awarded Alonso gets a 10 second penalty because the mechanics had started working on the #14 car while he was serving a 5 second penalty for another infringement. L'Asturian finished the race in 3rd position.
The prosecution it extends to the attempt to not have the Las Vegas Grand Prix held
However, Ben Sulayem would not stop there. According to the same report, as reported by the BBC, the FIA president reportedly told officials not to certify the Las Vegas circuit for last season's race. Searching for quibbles so as not to obtain approval for the city circuit which winds through the most famous streets of the “sin city”. According to this report “officials were unable to find any problems with the circuit and therefore certified the suitability of the race,” which took place regularly. But Ben Sulayem's pressure has opened up a broader spectrum that brings the issue back to what now seems to be increasingly becoming a power struggle between FIA and Liberty Media.
No comment from the FIA
The compliance officer's report says that Sulayem persisted with the stewards so that would revoke the second penalty given to Alonso.
Both the FIA and its president, Ben Sulayem, have not yet commented on the investigation. The ethics committee is therefore awaited, which will take four to six weeks to respond to the report on the matter.
