F1 Drivers Excited as Pressure builds on FIA President
The world of Formula 1 is abuzz with the news that Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the highly controversial FIA president, may face a challenge in the upcoming presidential elections from none other than Carlos Sainz Sr., the father of Williams driver Carlos Sainz Jr.
Carlos Sainz Jr., who has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with Ben Sulayem’s leadership, recently expressed his support for his father’s potential candidacy, saying “if there’s anyone who can take the politics out of this, it’s my father. He’s guided by common sense”. This endorsement comes as no surprise, given the strained relationship between Ben Sulayem and the F1 drivers.
The drivers have been up in arms over Ben Sulayem’s extreme driver behavior guidelines, which included draconian penalties for minor infractions like swearing. However, in a recent move, Ben Sulayem has relaxed these rules, reducing the maximum penalties for drivers by 50%. While this may seem like a step in the right direction, some drivers, like George Russell, are skeptical of Ben Sulayem’s motives, suggesting that the change may be a strategic move to appease his critics ahead of the presidential elections
Russell, who is a co-director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, denied that Ben Sulayem had consulted with drivers about the changes, saying “we’ve had no correspondence with anyone from the senior level at the FIA”. This lack of communication has led to further mistrust between the drivers and Ben Sulayem.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz Sr. has confirmed that he is considering a run for the presidency, citing his extensive experience in motorsport and his desire to give back to the sport. While some may raise concerns about a potential conflict of interest, given his son’s involvement in F1, Sainz Sr. has assured that he would be able to separate his personal and professional relationships
The F1 community is eagerly watching the developments in the FIA presidential elections, with many drivers and teams expressing their dissatisfaction with Ben Sulayem’s leadership. As the elections approach, it will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds and whether Carlos Sainz Sr. will indeed throw his hat into the ring
In related news, Lewis Hamilton’s father, Anthony, has been appointed to a senior position at the FIA young driver program, leading some to speculate that this may be a move by Ben Sulayem to appease his critics However, Hamilton himself has expressed his dissatisfaction with Ben Sulayem’s leadership, calling his original driver guidelines “ridiculous”
As the F1 season heats up, the drama off the track is certainly providing plenty of excitement. With the presidential elections looming, one thing is certain – the future of the FIA and the world of motorsport hangs in the balance.
