Mohammed Ben Sulayem Hits Out at Lewis Hamilton, Claiming Attacks Have Made His Position “Stronger” in FIA

There have been quite a few controversies surrounding Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of the FIA, recently. Allegations were made against him suggesting that he may have manipulated the results of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and played a role in the approval process for the Las Vegas circuit. While he was cleared of any wrongdoing after an investigation, many, including the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton are not satisfied with the way the FIA has handled things lately.

Lewis was especially angry at Ben Sulayem following the launch of a compliance probe into Toto Wolff‘s wife, for which Susie Wolff recently took legal action against the FIA. However, the FIA president has finally hit back at the negative press surrounding him.

In a recent media interaction before the Australian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton made it clear that he does not and has never supported Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Furthermore, the Mercedes driver echoed the sentiments expressed by Susie Wolff, the managing director of the F1 Academy, who raised concerns about the lack of transparency within the FIA regarding how recent events have unfolded. Hamilton also stressed the importance of accountability within Formula 1, noting that without these fundamental values, fans may find it difficult to trust the sport.

However, despite the challenging circumstances, Ben Sulayem isn’t backing down. In a letter addressed to FIA members, parts of which were published by the Associated Press as per a recent report from FormulaPassion.it, he expressed his thoughts on the situation. Sulayem described the recent allegations as having “shaken the FIA“ and causing “unprecedented turbulence.“ He believes these attacks are part of a deliberate effort to undermine the core of the FIA’s leadership and destabilize the organization.

He also highlighted the impact of leaked confidential information, which has tarnished the FIA’s reputation and caused concern among its members. However, Ben Sulayem has pledged to keep moving forward despite what he considers an attack on the FIA. “Despite these attacks aimed at me and our organization, we have emerged stronger and more resolute than ever. We know that the ultimate goal was to target me and weaken the FIA. I remain steadfast in my dedication and will work to create an environment of transparency, accountability, and unwavering integrity within the Federation.”

What did the FIA say about the investigation into Mohammad Ben Sulayem?

Following is the summary of the FIA’s statement into the investigation against Ben Sulayem:

The FIA Compliance Department, along with external advisors, conducted thorough investigations into allegations of potential interference in sporting decisions during Formula 1 events in 2023. After extensive review, the Ethics Committee unanimously concluded that there was no evidence to support the claims of interference involving FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The allegations against President Sulayem were found to be unsupported, with strong evidence presented to support the Ethics Committee’s determination. Specifically, Sulayem was cleared of any wrongdoing related to allegations concerning interference with the Stewards’ decision regarding a penalty reversal for Car 14 during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023, as well as allegations of attempting to interfere with the track certification process for the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023. It was noted that the certification process for the Las Vegas Grand Prix was completed and approved in due time.

Throughout the investigation, President Sulayem demonstrated complete cooperation, transparency, and compliance, which was greatly appreciated by the FIA. What are your thoughts on the overall state of Formula 1 in the past few months?

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