Skip to main content Skip to footer 
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of motorsport’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), is under investigation for allegedly interfering in a Formula 1 race result. A whistleblower has brought forward allegations suggesting that Ben Sulayem intervened to overturn a penalty given to Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The whistleblower’s claims are outlined in a report by an FIA compliance officer to the organization’s ethics committee, as revealed by BBC Sport. The report alleges that Ben Sulayem contacted Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the FIA’s vice-president for sport for the Middle East and North Africa region, who was in Saudi Arabia for the race, and expressed his desire for Alonso’s penalty to be revoked.
Alonso had initially received a 10-second penalty for work conducted on his car while he was serving a previous five-second penalty during the race. The compliance officer’s report indicates that the whistleblower accused Ben Sulayem of pressuring the stewards to reverse their decision regarding Alonso’s penalty.
While Ben Sulayem and the FIA have not responded to requests for comment regarding these allegations, the ethics committee is expected to issue its report within four to six weeks.
This incident adds to a series of controversies surrounding Ben Sulayem’s tenure as FIA president since his election in December 2021. These controversies have raised concerns within the Formula 1 community, including allegations of interfering with the sprint race format and his response to claims of a conflict of interest involving Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and his wife Susie.
Despite facing criticism and scrutiny, Ben Sulayem has defended his actions, including historical remarks deemed misogynistic, and has expressed his intention to remain in a non-executive role within the FIA.
