SUMMARY
- Allegations against FIA President Ben Sulayem include race tampering and interference with circuit approval in Las Vegas.
- A whistleblower claims Sulayem pressured officials to withhold certification for the Las Vegas street circuit.
Fresh accusations have surfaced against Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of the FIA. A whistleblower has emerged with allegations of race tampering. In the latest report by the BBC, it is claimed that Ben Sulayem allegedly instructed officials not to approve the Las Vegas street circuit for its debut event last season. It is important to note that the Las Vegas GP was the most sought-after event in 2023.
As per the recent developments, the Emirati president is under inquiry for his ‘interference’ in the results of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Specifically, Ben Sulayem had altered the course of the race with a penalty for Aston Martin driver, Fernando Alonso.
Reports suggest that Ben Sulayem exerted pressure to have Alonso’s penalty overturned. Formula 1 is undergoing an upheaval with back-to-back surprises.
Las Vegas GP allegations heighten scrutiny on Mohammed Ben Sulayem
The whistleblower, who previously raised concerns about Ben Sulayem’s actions regarding the 2x champion, now asserts that Ben Sulayem influenced decisions concerning the Las Vegas circuit. According to a report obtained by the BBC, the whistleblower states they were directed by the FIA president to find reasons to withhold approval for the circuit’s safety certification.
🚨 | FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem allegedly told officials not to certify the Las Vegas circuit for its race last year.
The claim is from the same whistleblower who accused Ben Sulayem of allegedly telling officials to overturn a penalty to Fernando Alonso in Saudi Arabia… pic.twitter.com/XAomg7x47w
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) March 5, 2024
However, a spokesman of the FIA stated, “From a sporting and safety perspective, the Las Vegas circuit approval followed FIA protocol in terms of inspection and certification. If you recall, there was a delay in the track being made available for inspection due to ongoing local organizer construction works.” The report also suggested that the management was, “unable to find any concerns with the circuit and therefore certified the circuit fit for the race.”
The inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, despite encountering some initial challenges such as track issues, was largely considered a success. The whistleblower claims a deliberate effort to identify faults with the circuit to prevent its licensing. As of now, neither Ben Sulayem nor the FIA has stated in response to these allegations.
F1 fans forecast crisis as investigation on FIA president continues
Formula 1 appears to be caught up in multiple scandals presently. Before the allegations related to the Las Vegas GP were made public, Ben Sulayem was in a tough spot with the 42-year-old Spanish driver. During the race at Jeddah, Alonso initially clinched third place. However, a 10-second post-race penalty was slapped on him for car repairs conducted while serving a prior five-second penalty.
Considering the massive fan following the driver holds, fans were upset by the revelation. A fan who goes by the username @DesaiNeetesh wrote on X, “Wow this sport is in a shambles was better of in the days off Eccolstone.” While many criticized the sport as well as the governing organization, fans also supported Ben Sulayem on the Las Vegas matter, pointing our the flaws of the track.
Right after the controversial messages of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner got leaked, Ben Sulayem found himself under investigation. Nonetheless, his comments regarding the Horner issue did not fit well with the fans as they vehemently called him out. The recent developments in the sport is casting a negative light which will significantly harm the popularity and viewership of F1.