The possibility of organizing an alternative championship, independent of the FIA, was discussed fifteen years ago – and is now back on the agenda.
Just like then, it’s all about the conflict with the FIA president. Then it was Max Mosley, now it’s Mohammed Ben Sulayem. But Formula 1 signs contracts with circuits, provides television broadcasts, sells advertisements, supplies freight to teams and provides the entire Grand Prix infrastructure. The FIA only issues the license, provides stewards and weather forecasts.
FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem said in February he was withdrawing from direct involvement in Formula 1, a move that followed a series of controversies since taking office in December 2021. But he was not withdrawing from business at all.
According to BBC Sport, the teams are concerned about his direct participation in Formula 1, which, according to the championship management, is ‘damaging to the sport’. In particular, a number of incidents that have occurred in recent months have a direct relationship with Sulayem. This included a re-examination of Lewis Hamilton for crossing the track at the Qatar Grand Prix, and a call-out to the stewards of Mercedes and Ferrari team leaders Toto Wolff and Frederic Vasseur for sharp comments during a press conference in Las Vegas.
Ben Sulayem wants teams to stick to his rules, teams don’t want that. He approved Andretti’s request, the teams opposed it. The FIA’s claims against Toto and Susie Wolff are also related to the same conflict.
The off-season won’t be boring.
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
