The gloves are off in the high-stakes world of Formula 1 as a bitter feud erupts between the sport’s governing body, the FIA, and its star drivers. In a stunning rebuke, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has slammed F1 drivers for questioning the organization’s financial practices and personnel changes, bluntly telling them it’s “none of their business.”
Drivers Demand Answers, FIA Chief Fires Back
The simmering tensions reached a boiling point ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, as drivers, led by the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), openly questioned the FIA’s handling of race fines and the abrupt departure of key officials like race director Niels Wittich. GPDA director George Russell called for “clarity and understanding” of the governing body’s inner workings.
But Ben Sulayem, the former rally driver elected as FIA head in 2021, was having none of it. In a blistering response, he put the drivers firmly in their place:
“Do we have to tell them? When something in the teams changes, do they tell us? We have the rules, we follow our rules. We don’t follow someone else’s rule. Simple as this.”
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President
The FIA chief didn’t mince words, suggesting the drivers should stick to what they know best: racing. He scoffed at the notion that the FIA owed them any explanations about its internal affairs or financial dealings.
Drivers Told to Mind Their Own Business
Ben Sulayem’s message to the drivers was crystal clear: stay in your lane. “It’s none of their business,” he declared. The FIA president pointed out the vast sums the drivers earn and questioned whether he should be entitled to ask how they spend their money.
“They talk and then they say, where are you putting the money? Why we don’t do this? I don’t say ‘Oh, sorry, what about you?’ The drivers are getting over 100 million. Do I ask where they spend it? No. It’s up to them. It’s their right.”
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President
The FIA chief insisted the organization’s financial matters were its own concern, just as the drivers’ personal spending was theirs. He vehemently rejected any suggestion that the FIA was in crisis or suffering a staff exodus under his watch.
FIA Invests Millions in Grassroots Racing
Despite his tough stance, Ben Sulayem did offer a glimpse into the FIA’s financial priorities. He revealed the governing body had invested a staggering €10.3 million ($10.9m) in grassroots single-seater racing in the previous year alone.
“You really think I would waste the money? This is not commercial. This is the money of the members, and I have been elected to safeguard that.”
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President
The FIA chief also touted the organization’s growth, claiming 64 new employees had joined in 2023 and another 92 in 2024. He proudly declared that under his leadership, the FIA had transformed from a €-23m operating deficit to being in the black for the first time.
Drivers Push Back, Demand Financial Transparency
The drivers, however, remain unsatisfied with Ben Sulayem’s brusque dismissal of their concerns. In a remarkable statement last month, the GPDA accused the FIA president of using inappropriate language towards them and treating them like children.
The drivers have called for greater financial transparency, arguing that all stakeholders, including themselves and the teams, should have a say in how the FIA’s funds, including hefty race fines, are allocated and spent.
As the F1 circus rolls into Qatar for another heated weekend of racing, the battle lines have been drawn. The FIA and its drivers appear locked in a bitter power struggle, with neither side willing to back down.
A Clash of Titans: Who Will Blink First?
With the glamorous façade of Formula 1 stripped away, the true nature of the sport as a ruthless, money-driven machine is laid bare. The FIA, long accustomed to holding unquestioned authority, now finds itself under unprecedented scrutiny from the very drivers who risk life and limb each weekend on the track.
As the powerful forces of the FIA and the multi-millionaire drivers collide, the question remains: who will blink first in this high-stakes game of brinkmanship? The eyes of the racing world will be glued to the drama unfolding both on and off the track in Qatar and beyond.
One thing is certain: in the pressure-cooker environment of Formula 1, where egos are as inflated as the budgets, and the quest for power is as relentless as the pursuit of the checkered flag, this is one battle that won’t be settled in the first corner. Buckle up, racing fans. This is going to be one wild ride.
