George Russell is unimpressed with the FIA’s leadership (Image: Getty)
has demanded to know the ’s ‘goal and objective’ following changes to the organisation’s compliance system. Such matters will now be directly passed to president rather than going through the general assembly.
Ben Sulayem’s leadership was heavily criticised in 2024, and as the head of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, Russell has led the push for more transparency and accountability from F1’s governing body.
Unfortunately for Russell and his fellow drivers, Ben Sulayem’s response to criticism from within the F1 paddock has been one of defiance, with the Emirati official taking a combative stance against opposition.
Questioning the latest process change at the FIA, Russell said: “I don’t really know what this whole governance change means with the compliance [situation]. I don’t even know exactly what it is, but it seems like quite a big deal.
“And I was quite surprised that it was ‘two weeks later, there’s something else’. Is it going to be something else again in two weeks’ time?’ And ‘Where are we? Where’s the endpoint?’ I think it would be great for us all to understand what is the FIA’s goal and objective.
“And I think that would be great for us to understand if the president could express to us what his goal is with the FIA, and maybe we can see it from his perspective. And maybe then we’ll have a greater understanding as well.”
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Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s leadership has been heavily criticised (Image: Getty)
Given Ben Sulayem’s recent comments, Russell shouldn’t expect too much insight from the FIA president. None of their business,” he told after the GPDA statement. “Sorry. With all respect, I am a driver. I respect the drivers. Let them go and concentrate on what they do best, which is race.
“But okay, you want to know how much we paid in grassroots? I’ll give you: 10.3 million [euro] we invested in grassroots last year. I think that’s a lot of money. In 2024, up to now, over 10 million. Back in grassroots. In karting.”
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Ben Sulayem continued: “Do we have to tell them? When something in the teams changes, do they tell us? No, they don’t. Nobody has to. We have the rules, we follow our rules. We don’t follow someone else’s rule. Simple as this.”
The FIA would benefit greatly from a more stable 2025 season. Towards the end of the 2024 campaign, there was constant chopping and changing in leadership positions with race director Niels Wittich, senior steward Tim Mayer and Formula Two deputy race director Janette Tan among the headline departures.