FIA: Controversial changes to F1 governing body's ethics committee voted through amid criticism of Mohammed Ben Sulayem

13 December 2024, 12:05 | Updated: 13 December 2024, 13:32

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, has voted through controversial rule changes that will limit the ways in which its leadership can be held accountable.

The amendments to the statutes regarding auditing and ethics within the governing body were approved at the FIA's general assembly and prize giving in Rwanda on Friday.

The changes mean the FIA ethics committee will now only carry out an initial assessment to determine whether an in-depth investigation is necessary. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the president of the senate, Carmelo Sanz De Barros, will have the power to decide whether to take further action on any ethics complaints.

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Meanwhile, the audit committee's power to independently investigate financial issues has been removed.

San De Barros is a member of Ben Sulayem's four-person leadership team at the top of the FIA, and is considered to be a close ally of the president.

The changes come at the end of a year in which the ethics and audit committees have investigated several allegations about the conduct of Ben Sulayem, who is seeking re-election for a second term in his role.

David Richards, the chairman of Motorsport UK, who was among those able to vote on the changes, said last week that he was "concerned" by the proposal and urged a rethink. Sky Sports News understood there was also concern from senior figures at F1 teams.

The head of Austria's motorsport federation Oliver Schmerold said earlier this week that the changes would be "not good in terms of checks and balances".

Along with confirming the approval of the changes on Friday, the FIA provided Sky Sports News with a statement explaining what they hope the amendments will achieve.

The sport's governing body said the three main aims of changes to the ethics committee were to "preserve and enhance the independence" of the ethics committee, limit "continuous leaks to the media of confidential material" and to protect those involved in ethics cases by limiting the number of FIA employees that view reports.

The changes to the audit committee are intended to "clarify that the audit committee is an advisory body to the senate and that it shall operate within the limits of the FIA statutes".

FIA explanation in full

Ethics Committee

There are three main reasons for the Ethics Committee changes:

(i) First, to preserve and enhance the independence of the Ethics Committee by reducing the involvement of the FIA Administration in its operation. The Ethics Committee previously only reported to the President, it now reports to both the President and the President of the Senate. The Committee now has the powers to independently assess whether or not to launch an investigation.

(ii) Second, as a result of continuous leaks to the media of confidential material, including Ethics Committee reports, it is now proposed that the distribution of any Ethics Committee Report will be limited. This does not prevent either the President or the President of the Senate from involving Senate members or other members of the FIA or its staff in discussing or implementing any recommendations from the Ethics Committee.

(iii) Finally, Ethics Committee Reports can often contain material of a confidential nature, including criminal or safeguarding issues. It was therefore necessary to limit the automatic sharing of this information with multiple members and FIA staff. Limiting the distribution of the report will also protect the complainant and individual subject to the investigation.

Audit Committee

The aim of the changes is to clarify that the Audit Committee is an advisory body to the Senate and that it shall operate within the limits of the FIA Statutes.

The proposed amendments simply clarify that the Audit Committee is a support body for the Senate and that the Internal Regulations of the Audit Committee will, in future, be approved by the Senate.

The Audit Committee retains its powers to assist and investigate if asked to do so by the President of the Senate.

Ben Sulayem's turbulent 2024

Ben Sulayem has been surrounded by controversy this year after an FIA whistle-blower accused that he interfered with the outcome of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The 63-year-old was also accused of telling FIA officials to not certify the circuit for last year's Las Vegas Grand Prix. Both claims were dismissed.

He was criticised by Lewis Hamilton for using stereotypical language when he made a comparison to rappers in an interview, where he spoke about wanting to see less foul language on the team radio. The FIA declined to comment at the time.

In the last 12 months, the FIA has parted company with 10 senior figures, including its sporting director, F1 technical director, digital director, head of commercial legal affairs, governance and regulatory director, race director, the head of the women in motorsport commission, secretary general of mobility and director of communications.

Most notable were race director Niels Wittich and leading steward Tim Mayer effectively being sacked in November.

George Russell, who is the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) director, said in November that the F1 drivers are "a bit fed up" with the FIA and questioned who would be next to be sacked.

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