Despite an overall intense Grand Prix weekend this past one in Qatar, and one that is lining up to be an interesting one in a few days time in Abu Dhabi, there has been one overhanging controversy in the F1 world: the rumours of mismanagement and intense control within the FIA.
Following the departure of Race Director Neils Wittich, and a string of interviews by the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, telling the drivers to mind their own business and that he can do what he wants, essentially demonstrating unconditional and unchecked power, the Formula One paddock has been asking for clarification and transparency regarding the sporting administration that runs things.
One person that is taking his time to comment on the situation is Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, who despite having a bad weekend, seeing George Russell missing out on a podium after getting pole, said that it’s come to the point where things have become a reality show at the FIA.
Staying united despite the current FIA problems
Unity is the key for Wolff, regardless of what happens inside the reality show that is the FIA, according to the Austrian.
“I mean, generally, if you look at it in a positive way, it could have its own reality show of what’s happening at the moment.
“I think all of us stakeholders need to bear in mind that we need to protect this holy grail of a sport that it is and do it with responsibility and accountability and transparency. And it doesn’t come across like that.
“So I can’t look into the organisation. I understand what we are doing and trying to keep that together.
“But it’s good that the drivers are united in this overall, let’s say, in the bigger picture, like they’ve shown.
“Teams very much have an understanding of what we believe is right or wrong. And so everybody just needs to look in the mirror and say, ‘am I contributing the best to this sport or not’?”
Potential spillover of Ben Sulayem’s firing spree
When it comes to the internal proceedings in the FIA, Wolff has made it very simple: regardless of what’s in the news, it doesn’t matter to him as long as the sport is not affected.
However, he does have concerns that rationality is not a thing at present.
“You know, I think he can fire as many people as he wants. It’s his organisation, he’s the president. That’s not something that anybody has an involvement in.
“Where it becomes important for the drivers and for all of us is, does it make the decision-making process better? Does it make the regs better? Is the sport improving because of these changes in the organisation and the personnel? And if the answer to all of this is yes, it’s doing, then this is an internal matter that he has to handle.
“Obviously, what’s in the news and the potential spillover in terms of negativity and reputation, that is something that is bad for all of us.
“And this is also what I meant. All of us are this sport and all of the stakeholders, the media, the FIA, the drivers, the teams, I mean all of us.
“Liberty, Stefano is running it and I think we, in times when there is so much polarisation, so much conflict, the rationality needs to win.
“And for me, it doesn’t look that way at the moment.”
