Mohammed Ben Sulayem wants more appreciation for the FIA (Image: Getty)
has stated that the ‘only gets rubbish’ from key F1 figures, protesting the lack of praise and congratulations over the governing body’s success in solving the track limits issues at the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this year.
Historically, the Austrian Grand Prix has been a breeding ground for track limit violations. In 2023, eight drivers were slapped with post-race penalties, creating a chaotic results change. In reaction to this, the FIA implemented new gravel strips at Turn Nine and Turn 10 for the 2024 race.
In a conversation with , Ben Sulayem revealed that he was frustrated with the lack of praise the FIA received for that change. “No, we will never get the credit,” he fumed. “Impossible. We’ll only get rubbish. That I know.”
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He continued: “When you look at it, everybody made money out of the FIA, everyone except the FIA. Everyone gets the credit, except the . It’s true, when I took over, we had a running operating cost of minus 20 million. Why? Because we have our income as everybody.
“But look at the promoters… And good on them and I congratulate them, they are smart enough to do that… But I’ll be very, very honest, as always. So Liberty Media did a great job in transforming Formula 1. If you tell me if I could go back in time, would I undo [that]? No way.
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Max Verstappen has not been impressed with the FIA president (Image: Getty)
“I wouldn’t undo that, but I would just make sure that the FIA is two equals with them. They are a good promoter, they are. If you ask me today: is there anyone who is capable as much as them? I can see that [there isn’t]. I support them in what they are doing. The FIA works with them in the best [possible] way.
“But then, the regulations and the governance is the [work of the] FIA. And then, let everyone make money. Let the drivers have fun, race in a safe way and make money. And let the team principals make more money, [and] they are. But the FIA will never get the credit. Impossible.”
Ben Sulayem’s comments arrive amid a flurry of criticisms over the governing body’s conduct. Most notably, reigning world champion was left furious at the Singapore Grand Prix last time out after he was punished with community service after swearing in Thursday’s press conference.
Verstappen described the saga as “silly”, staging a protest by refusing to expand on answers in the post-qualifying conference before explaining that if the FIA continued with their language clampdown, it could accelerate his eventual F1 retirement.