(L to R): George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 with Mohammed Bin Sulayem (UAE) President of the FIA in the post-qualifying park. 25.11.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 23, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, Qualifying Day
Formula 1 drivers George Russell and Fernando Alonso were asked to share their thoughts on the recent accusations made against FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The general feeling among the motorsport community is a desire for “transparency” in the governance of the sport.
On Tuesday, the FIA released a statement acknowledging that their “Compliance Officer received a report detailing potential allegations involving certain members of its governing bodies.”
These allegations were directed at Ben Sulayem by a whistleblower. According to reports, the FIA President attempted to overturn Fernando Alonso’s 10-second penalty from last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and allegedly instructed officials not to certify last year’s Las Vegas GP.
Alonso’s penalty was initially attributed to his mechanics working on his car while he served a previous penalty. However, Aston Martin successfully appealed the decision with the help of video evidence, resulting in the 42-year-old driver’s return to his podium position at the expense of Russell.
During the drivers’ press conference on Wednesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Russell, who serves as Director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), expressed the desire for total transparency. “We want a fair and level playing field to showcase our skills. I cannot provide further comments at this time,” he stated.
“We were surprised a year ago when the result was overturned. The Mercedes legal team believed they had presented a strong case and initially won, only to later lose. Our main goal is to have transparency and the opportunity to compete on a level playing field.”
These recent developments regarding the accusations against Ben Sulayem are part of a larger trend of political issues off the track during the early stages of the Formula 1 season. This includes the investigation conducted by Red Bull following accusations against Christian Horner regarding his alleged behavior towards a colleague.
Russell emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the races.
The Mercedes driver expressed disappointment when races do not receive the attention they deserve in the media.
However, Formula 1 is leading the way in terms of technology. In recent years, we have pushed the boundaries in terms of entertainment, and it is crucial to create an inclusive environment for everyone.
In recent years, we have witnessed a shift in the sport’s demographic profile, and it is essential to ensure inclusion.
Unfortunately, these difficult conversations and questions are necessary.
Transparency in all reports is desired, as without the facts, it is difficult to make meaningful comments.
Fernando Alonso believes that excessive discussions off the track reflect the lack of excitement in the races, especially with Max Verstappen’s dominant performance.
Currently, on-track activities are not very exciting, with one car consistently winning the last 72 Grand Prix races, essentially dominating for three years,” the Spaniard stated.
In such situations, there are always a series of off-track activities.
Regarding Ben Sulayem’s alleged involvement in the overturning of his penalty in Saudi Arabia in 2023, Alonso trusts the appeal process his team went through and is waiting for the result of the FIA investigation.
“It is mainly an FIA investigation that we must respect and wait for the conclusion.
We are satisfied with all the evidence and proof we presented last year, so the resolution was clear to us.
So let’s see what the FIA concludes in their investigation. However, Aston Martin and we have no control over it.
Commenting on the matter is challenging, as new rumors seem to surface every day. It is their problem and their own investigation, and we respect, follow, and await the result.
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