Mohammed Ben Sulayem reiterated his stance after being exonerated of all accusations by the Ethics Committee in a letter directed to FIA membership. The Formula 1 and FIA have encountered numerous controversies in recent weeks. The FIA President was alleged to have attempted to interfere with an F1 race outcome and even withhold certification. However, the 62-year-old was absolved of all charges by the FIA Ethics committee. Ben Sulayem has now addressed the situation in a letter sent to the FIA membership.
The FIA President stated that the recent events had a clear objective of targeting the core of the sports governing body and undermining its foundation. Although not explicitly mentioning the allegations, Ben Sulayem emphasized that the leaks of confidential and sensitive information had damaged the reputation and credibility of the organization. Previously, the FIA had refuted inaccurate reporting regarding the claims.
Nevertheless, Mohammed Ben Sulayem affirmed that the FIA had emerged stronger than ever despite the attacks on his character. He claimed that it was evident that the ultimate goal of these “reprehensible acts” was to weaken the essence of the sports governing body by targeting him. The FIA has faced criticism from fans and critics for a lack of transparency. F1 Managing Director filed a legal complaint against the FIA in the French Courts, seeking answers regarding the details of last year’s conflict of investigation saga. Additionally, others have recently criticized the FIA for its lack of transparency.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem asserted his commitment to transparency and accountability. He emphasized that the FIA maintained unwavering integrity within its environment. However, he did not specifically refer to any particular case. Undoubtedly, Ben Sulayem remains steadfast in his belief that he has done nothing wrong amidst the recent allegations. After being cleared by the Ethics Committee, the 62-year-old has reaffirmed his position. However, there is still a long way to go for the FIA President to address the criticism surrounding the lack of transparency.