The head of the FIA allegedly ordered his team to delay the approval of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the Las Vegas Grand Prix (images via IMAGO).
Formula 1 has been going through a period of disputes. The FIA president has been accused of two serious actions. Firstly, the Emirati was accused of interfering in the outcome of an F1 race last season. Additionally, the 62-year-old man was even accused of trying to prevent the certification of . Now, Ben Sulayem has finally commented on this latest case.
A whistleblower had claimed that did not want the sport’s governing body to authorize the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit. It was alleged that the FIA president wanted to create artificial problems, if necessary, to ensure the race did not happen.
The 62-year-old man emphasized that he has the authority to authorize tracks as FIA president. Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated that he supported F1’s efforts. The Emirati believed he could have refused, as the track was not ready in time for inspection.
However, Ben Sulayem stated that once he was informed that the track was indeed safe, he was willing to grant certification. The Emirati mentioned that, as a racing driver himself, it was important to him that the circuit was safe not only for the drivers. Furthermore, the 62-year-old man emphasized the importance of safety for everyone in the paddock.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix was undoubtedly the most important race in recent years for the sport. F1 and Liberty Media took on as promoters of the race to generate substantial revenue from Sin City. The sport spent over half a billion dollars to create a grand spectacle for the world in Las Vegas.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem mentioned that if he had chosen not to authorize the track, that would have caused a great loss to Formula 1. However, the FIA president pointed out that it would have been legal, nevertheless, as he was responsible. Although, the 62-year-old man stated that F1 and the FIA were in the same situation and, as such, neither party could allow this situation to worsen.
The head of the FIA will soon be questioned by the Ethics Committee of the governing body of the sport. However, no other information about this case has been made public. It will be interesting to see how things unfold for the 62-year-old man, as controversies continue to surround his leadership.
