FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has proposed a number of changes to the FIA statutes, according to a report by the BBC on Tuesday, after the British media outlet reviewed a confidential document. The changes would mean more power for Ben Sulayem and could obstruct a candidacy from Carlos Sainz Sr.
The proposed amendments to the FIA statutes will be voted on next month during the FIA General Assembly. This is not the first time the Emirati has come up with changes.
Carlos Sainz Sr.
The most controversial change appears to be aimed at preventing Carlos Sainz Sr. from running for the role of FIA president. The current president is proposing to add a rule stating that there is “nothing in the candidates’ files who are running for president that calls their professional integrity into question.” Sainz is the father of Williams driver Carlos Sainz, which could be interpreted as a conflict of interest. Thanks to the newly proposed statutes, the case could end up with the ethics committee, which is overseen by Ben Sulayem.
In addition, the Emirati also wishes to directly appoint four of the sixteen members of the senate that governs the FIA. Currently, the FIA president only nominates candidates, after which the remaining twelve members must give their approval. Reportedly, Ben Sulayem also proposes that the terms of FIA members, including those of the ethics committee, in positions directly linked to the FIA president, coincide with the term of the president himself. The Emirati hopes to achieve more ‘continuity’ in this way. However, this also leaves less room for new ideas from outside the presidential circle.
Deadline
Elections for the FIA presidency are taking place this year, and the end of Ben Sulayem’s first term is approaching. The Emirati’s last proposal concerns the deadline for candidacy. The president wants to bring this forward, from the current 21 days before the election to 49 days. The committee reviewing the nominations would thus have more time to scrutinize candidates. Critics, however, argue that this also gives members more time to find reasons to block a candidacy.
