FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has delivered an assault on the media together with a complicated assertion concerning the Components 1 British Grand Prix.
Chatting with the media on the Dakar Rally, Ben Sulayem has reopened his criticism of the press in a wierd rant, with it unsure what precipitated his newest outburst, because it raised extra questions on his working of motorsport’s governing physique.
Ben Sulayem has repeated claims that he feels he has been unfairly criticised by the media. He additionally made a cryptic reference to the British GP having Qatar Airways as its title sponsor.
He mentioned: “Three years of critics towards me. Do I care? Was I elected to take heed to the media? No. I like the great media, the constructive media and perhaps I make a mistake, and you may come and criticise me in an goal approach.”
When requested about being handled unfairly, he added: “Unfair. However the world is unfair. Saudi Arabia has reinvested so much.
“You take a look at a number of the British media and so they go towards Saudi Arabia or me. However one factor I’d say, go on and see the British Grand Prix. Is it the British Grand Prix? No, it’s the Qatar Airways British Grand Prix. Please, you take away the finances, you take away the cash.”
Autosport has requested the FIA for readability over the which means of Ben Sulayem’s feedback.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA
Picture by: Pink Bull Content material Pool
Ben Sulayem has been at loggerheads with the media – in particular the British press – since he was interviewed by Autosport final yr on the Azerbaijan GP.
In a separate interview he reacted to Adrian Newey’s evaluation that each Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen had been demonised by the press.
Ben Sulayem provided his opinion on the topic including “in case you take a look at the British media and what they did to me… For God’s sake, they convicted me”.
Throughout his tenure on the FIA, Ben Sulayem has been embroiled in controversy. His latest determination to make alterations to the organisations statutes to consolidate his power has been criticised by its members.
He has additionally been accused – and later cleared – of meddling within the final result of the 2023 Saudi Arabian GP and attempting to dam the FIA’s ratification of the inaugural Las Vegas GP.
Final yr, he took a tough stance on drivers’ swearing, incomes a rebuke from the Grand Prix Drivers’ Affiliation [GPDA].
A strongly-worded letter from the GPDA mentioned: “We urge the FIA President to additionally contemplate his personal tone and language when speaking to our member drivers, or certainly about them, whether or not in a public discussion board or in any other case.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA, talks with Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, third place, in Parc Ferme
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photographs
“Additional, our members are adults, they don’t should be given directions through the media about issues as trivial as carrying of jewelry and underpants.”
His newest assault on the media comes as he enters an election yr the place he at present faces no competitors for the FIA presidency.
Ben Sulayem’s feedback concerning the title sponsor of the British GP have additionally been put to Silverstone for a response.
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