David Richards, Chairman of Motorsport UK, is challenging FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Richards, who holds a significant position within the World Motor Sport Council, was barred from a meeting last week because he refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement. The Briton accuses the FIA of ‘degrading its accountability’ and threatens legal action.
David Richards and FIA Deputy Director of Sport Robert Reid were recently excluded from a World Motor Sport Council meeting because they refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement, also known as an NDA. Participants were prohibited from discussing relevant matters outside of official meetings. Mohammed Ben Sulayem is then said to have ordered Richards and Reid to be barred. The former has since written a powerful letter to all members of Motorsport UK, criticizing Ben Sulayem’s actions.
The Englishman states that he supported Ben Sulayem during his appointment in 2021. However, he now speaks of ‘broken promises’ in a situation that has ‘gradually deteriorated’. “Moreover, the authority of the audit committee and the ethics committee has been severely limited,” says Richards. According to him, the mandatory signing of a non-disclosure agreement is the last straw. “Everything is now considered confidential, which means I can’t necessarily share what I consider to be relevant information,” he explains. “In addition, the FIA can decide at its own discretion whether someone has violated the terms of the new agreement.”
Legal Steps
Richards further revealed that breaching this confidentiality obligation would be met with an immediate fine of as much as 50,000 euros. The legal team of Motorsport UK has since sought to challenge his exclusion from the meeting, but the FIA has yet to respond. Richards concluded his letter by stating that if there is no response, he will be compelled to take further legal action.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been embroiled in controversy several times since taking office in December 2021. His approach within Formula 1, changes to the statutes that reduce accountability, the dismissal of FIA figureheads, and new rules around the public behavior of drivers have damaged his image. Nevertheless, he hopes to run again for the FIA presidency later this year. Experts speculate that the introduction of a confidentiality obligation is intended to prevent negative reporting. There is also speculation that he wants to make it more difficult for potential opponents in the presidential election. Reportedly, the director of the F1 Academy, Susie Wolff, is interested in his role.
