MB has a choice: either a 10 spot grid penalty at the season opener or 3 fewer testing days over the winter But seriously stop it with the stupid fines. Fining a F1 team or a driver $ 50,000 is like me dropping a dime out of my wallet.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/fia-president-sulayem-eyes-changes-to-stop-abu-dhabi-f1-controversy-repeat/6886721/ FIA president Sulayem eyes changes to stop Abu Dhabi F1 controversy repeat By: Jonathan Noble Dec 17, 2021, 12:42 PM FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem has promised Formula 1 fans that its governing body will do what’s necessary to ensure no repeat of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix controversy. Image Unavailable, Please Login Sulayem’s arrival at the helm of the FIA comes just days after F1 has found its image tarnished in the wake of the safety car restart that decided the world championship battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. The FIA World Motor Sport Council has already announced plans for a probe into the events of Abu Dhabi, and Sulayem has said he wants to wait for the full findings from the investigation to be presented before deciding on the best course of action. He thinks it would be completely wrong of him to make knee-jerk responses without fully understanding the circumstances of what happened. “We will look into the rules and we are sure that, if any situation like this occurs in the future, we will have an instant solution for it,” he said during a press conference in Paris. “Or we avoid it even. “There are so many areas that we can improve. We cannot just sit and say we are good. No, it's not enough in a sport as heavy, I would say, and as important [as F1].” Sulayem will have direct authority over whether or not F1 sticks with race director Michael Masi, whose future has been the subject of intense speculation in recent days. Image Unavailable, Please Login Mohammed ben Sulayem, President EMSO (UAE) Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images Asked if he had full confidence in the Australian, he said: “Why do we jump? We'll have to actually look into the matter. “I am just newly elected, and I will look into the matter tomorrow. I have a meeting with the staff, and I will look into every single matter that can be improved. Read Also: Sulayem: "No forgiveness" for Hamilton if he breached F1's FIA gala rules The feisty defiance that characterised an F1 grafter-turned winner FIA perhaps too lenient with F1 team criticisms, says Todt “But I definitely will not just jump to a conclusion on decisions without going back to my team.” Sulayem is well aware about the challenges he faces in his role at a time when the governing body’s credibility has been questioned, and has vowed to step down from other responsibilities outside of the FIA in a bid to help him concentrate on his new role. “If you talk to me about the credibility of the FIA, yes, we lie on good structures, and [with] good teams,” he said. “But there is always a place for improvement. We just have to look where can we improve. “One thing is that I will devote myself, and I am not going to have any other job except being the President of the FIA. “I stepped down from all of my other responsibilities. I am not going to do anything else. And I'm not going to be a burden on the FIA. “I will concentrate with passion, with the right team, and I have a good team, and we are asking for even a better team. So this is why the FIA is credible.”
Outch. They got some tough laws over there in Saudi Arabia. Watch out Lewis. I bet Hamilton's helmet design for the last two races did not endear him with the local politicos. I won't say no more as then it becomes P&R. Just saying that he needs to be treading carefully going forward given the new FIA boss.
FIA rules = monetary fine. There is not inquisition or black bag midnight trip to secret site lol. Geezus.
Non story. He says rules apply. We ask for this yes? No matter the driver or team. Sulayem: "No forgiveness" for Hamilton if he breached F1's FIA gala rules New FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says Lewis Hamilton can be given "no forgiveness" if he is found to have breached Formula 1's rules in missing the annual prize-giving gala. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Jonathan Noble Dec 17, 2021, 11:37 AM In the wake of the controversy over the safety car restart at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that has left Hamilton disillusioned with the sport, he and his team boss Toto Wolff elected to miss the FIA end-of-season gathering in Paris on Thursday night. Hamilton's absence, as runner-up in the drivers' championship, appears to be a breach of F1's Sporting Regulations. Article 6.6 of the rules states: "The drivers finishing first, second and third in the Championship must be present at the annual FIA Prize Giving ceremony." One of Sulayem's first responsibilities since taking over will be to judge whether or not Hamilton's absence from the event goes against the regulations. Speaking about the situation in his first official press conference at president, Sulayem said: "At the end of the day, rules are rules. "So we are going to look into the side of where the technical rules are there to be employed and was he in breach? I have to look into it." He added: "Of course, we'll have to be also be following our rules. But in the meanwhile, it doesn't stop us from making a champion feel good about the sport, you know. "It's easy to be nice to people. And it is cheap to be nice. And it's also to motivate people. But definitely, if there is any breach, there is no forgiveness in this." Image Unavailable, Please Login Mohammed bin Sulayem on the grid Photo by: Sam Bloxham Sulayem said that critical for the FIA to understand was whether or not Hamilton did break the regulations – as he admitted that the world champion was 'broken' by the events of the weekend. Asked to clarify if he could really rule out any "forgiveness", Sulayem said: "Forgiveness is always there, but rules are rules. We look at the rules. "And I always say: rules are not made. A human made them...and they can be improved and changed by humans. So the rules are there to be improved. "I know that Lewis is really sad about what happened and one word I would say is he's broken. But we have to look if there was any breach. "I cannot [say for now]. It's just a few hours now I've been a president, and I've just started giving answers without going back to the facts." If Hamilton is found guilty, then he could face a financial penalty for his absence rather than any sporting sanction. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/sulayem-no-forgiveness-for-hamilton-if-he-breached-fia-gala-rules/6886492/
I would say certainly an intelligent and thoughtful new FIA leader is he. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/59705074 Ben Sulayem, 60, a former rally driver who has been a member of the FIA World Council, F1's legislative body, since 2008, said: "Someone will always get upset. I spoke to Toto and he said to me: 'I am not coming here.' "I listened to him. When I listened, he started cooling down. We will look into the rules and make sure any situation like this that occurs in the future we will have an instant solution to it. There are so many areas we can improve." He said he believed that Hamilton, Mercedes and the FIA will be able to "start afresh" in 2022. "It is a responsibility of me that we forget the past but look into it with improvement," Ben Sulayem said. "We have to be proactive. We have to improve in every aspect. As a driver, I would be so upset for a while but time is a fact that will cool." Ben Sulayem is a 14-time Middle East rally champion and former World Rally Championship competitor who has been a motorsport administrator for the past 16 years. He was elected after a campaign in which he promised to expand motorsport participation around the world and lead the governing body for its members. His deputy president for sport is Scot Robert Reid, who won the World Rally Championship as co-driver to Englishman Richard Burns in 2001. Brazilian Fabiana Ecclestone - wife of former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone - is his vice-president representing South America. He said Ecclestone had been nominated for her experience and credibility having worked for the FIA's member club in Brazil and as part of the organisation of the Brazilian Grand Prix. She is the first woman to have a role as an FIA vice-president. Ben Sulayem said Bernie Ecclestone had not been involved other than to introduce the pair.
Asked to clarify whether he was saying Hamilton would be penalised for not attending the gala, he said: "Forgiveness is always there. But rules are rules. Did MBS really say ‘rules are rules’?! LOL If so, amongst whatever other qualities he may possess he obviously has zero self awareness or appreciation of irony. expect the FIA/Liberty clown show to continue. More dull Tilke tracks in the desert. Less iconic Spa, Silverstone…..I’m out.
Hey maybe the ME guys can kill off the politics. That would be great. But hopefully not encourage ME politics. Just Racing
Agreed. I like Lewis & Max as drivers. I want to see them drive. Him not doing the gala is sad. If it is against the rules, as I believe it is, let him have it.
This and Todt’s comments about FIA not tolerating criticism is a message to Merc that it’s not them who run F1, despite what they think: FIA perhaps too lenient with F1 team criticisms, says Todt https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/fia-perhaps-too-lenient-with-f1-team-criticisms-says-todt/6886293/
I think if the FIA starts blaming teams after last weekend’s siht show, they may further alienate the fans. What most see is a regulating organization that’s not accountable to anyone (after they cleared themselves of any wrongdoing in Abu Dhabi). Coming out with this line says they will silence any (all or just selected ones lol) critics of their misdeeds moving forward. Wrong message at the wrong time….
Along with MB and RB, several teams have been critical towards the FIA this past season. And quite rightly so! The FIA was weak under Todt.
All sports sanctioning organizations, leagues and associations have rules against making unfounded accusations against them and for bringing the sport into disrepute. Unfounded comments like “this race was manipAlated (sic), man” are very serious and should be subject to disciplinary action.
I don’t disagree that speaking out against a sports org is problematic, but it’s the wrong message at the wrong time to attempt to silence someone when a large swath of the viewing public feels things were being manipulated. Do a new culpa and tighten up the speaking out during the winter. Both Red Bull and Merc spent the entire season accusing the FIA of misdeeds (and rightly so!)…it’s disingenuous to suggest otherwise.
The comments were NOT unfounded! That's why the FIA is doing a full review/investigation of the incident. Everyone knows the questionable call Masi made placed Formula 1 in negative situation. In a moment when F1 should have been spectacular, they looked poor/less than optimum.
Firstly, the race was not manipulated, so the comments were unfounded and defamatory despite the fact all HAM fans are crying about. And secondly, it’s only the HAM fans who are bothered by the turn of events and not “everyone”.
Rather have the team with Tom Kristensen in it ...this is the final nail in the coffin for grid girls
Not sure if an intelligent guy would give full throttle in a F1 with cold tires https://www.instagram.com/tv/CXl-kjpv1gV/?utm_medium=copy_link
More information of the new FIA leader - https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/43565/the-fia-has-a-new-president-heres-why-its-a-big-deal Ben Sulayem is the first-ever non-European president in the governing body's 117-year history. That's a big change and one that's considered to be very welcome at the top. His manifesto and campaign ran as "FIA for Members" with the idea of making the institution more democratic and to radically broaden participation in motorsport. His first manifesto pledge was to double global motorsport participation, a big commitment for what's ultimately quite a niche pursuit, as well as a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Also, for a car website, I've gotta point out something significant: his third pledge was to strengthen the links between sport and mobility. Therefore, motorsport should serve as a testbed for road technology with manufacturer connections and influence. Something kinda wild about Ben Sulayem's campaign is that his was the first ever to run with a woman in a listed leadership position. Now that Ben Sulayem's been elected, the South American Vice President for Sport at the FIA will, for the first time, be a woman. That woman will be Bernie Ecclestone's current wife, the Fabiana Ecclestone. To be clear, she does have her own connections to motorsport's highest echelons; she and Bernie met at the World Motor Sport Council, so it's not a case of his influence getting her the role. It is slightly crazy that this is the first time a woman has held that kind of position, though, when you think of how long the FIA's been around.
