Key figures within the FIA were reportedly excluded from a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on Wednesday following a dispute with Chairman Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Several leading figures were denied access because they refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement. This document would prohibit them from discussing FIA-related matters outside of official meetings.
According to BBC Sport, those barred included Robert Reid, the FIA’s Deputy President for Sport, and David Richards, the British representative. Ben Sulayem is said to have introduced the document to prevent sensitive information from leaking to the media. The situation raises questions about the legality of FIA decisions, including the regulations for the upcoming Formula 1 season. According to the FIA statutes, members of the World Motor Sport Council are in fact allowed to attend any meeting and have voting rights. Yet, the body reportedly decided on Wednesday without them to introduce a second mandatory pit stop for the Monaco GP.
“As is customary in all organizations, the FIA implements procedures, including non-disclosure agreements,” a spokesperson said. “This ensures confidential relationships between parties and protects personal information and regulatory interests. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information undermines our ability to fully perform our task. A large majority of our members support these steps to ensure confidentiality.”
Controversies Pile Up
Mohammed Ben Sulayem has faced several controversies since taking office in December 2021. His approach within Formula 1, changes to the statutes that reduce accountability, the dismissal of FIA figures, and new rules around the public behavior of drivers have damaged his image. Both Reid and Richards are believed to have fallen out of favor with the Emirati for some time.
Ben Sulayem hopes to run again for the FIA presidency later this year. Experts speculate that the introduction of the non-disclosure agreement is intended to prevent negative reporting. It is also speculated that he would want to make it more difficult for someone to challenge him in the presidential election.
