Mohammed Ben Sulayem has received the much-needed backing of 30 member clubs from the Americas after being exonerated of recent accusations. Formula and the FIA have encountered a challenging period, with the sport being embroiled in controversies, including two serious allegations against the FIA President. However, the 62-year-old was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Ethics Committee of the sports governing body following an investigation. Now, Ben Sulayem has garnered support from multiple FIA member clubs.
In response to the allegations, Ben Sulayem had written a letter to the members of the sports governing body, asserting that the accusations leveled against him were an assault on the FIA. He was accused of interfering with the outcome of an F1 race and allegedly attempting to suppress the Las Vegas GP.
Representatives from 30 member clubs in the Americas have now penned a letter to the FIA President, recommending that the sports governing body pursue legal action against those who falsely accused and defamed both the FIA and Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Furthermore, the clubs emphasized that the allegations against the FIA, which were disseminated through various media platforms, were primarily intended to inflict harm upon the sports governing body and its leadership. The letter also highlighted that the FIA Ethics Committee had concluded that Mohammed Ben Sulayem had conducted himself with integrity and transparency.
The representatives affirmed that the selection of the FIA President had been carried out in accordance with the governing body’s statutes. Additionally, any external interference had no impact on Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s position.
The letter expressed a public vote of confidence in Ben Sulayem from the 30 clubs. The representatives noted that the 62-year-old had remained committed to transforming the FIA and ensuring transparency. It should be noted that Lewis Hamilton had previously criticized the FIA for a lack of transparency in an investigation into a conflict of interest involving Susie Wolff.
Fabiana Ecclestone, the Vice President of South America for Sports and wife of former F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone, had also affixed her signature to this letter.
The 30 clubs from various countries have demonstrated unwavering faith in Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The FIA President was in dire need of support from the members after facing severe backlash from fans and critics in recent weeks. However, it remains to be seen how the F1 community will react to Ben Sulayem’s reinforced position.