Allegations against Ben Sulayem was an attack on the FIA

A group of FIA member clubs have given their support to the president of the governing body, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, following his investigation by the Ethics Committee last month.

Ben Sulayem was cleared following claims he attempted to interfere in a stewards decision at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and over the certification of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit last November.

He received strong backed in a letter from member clubs representing 27 countries in North and South Americas, published on the FIA’s website. It noted the Ethics Committee found Ben Sulayem was “absolved of the unfounded accusations” levelled against him and “acted honourably, transparently and independently.”

The letter claims “accusations of impropriety and unethical practices propagated by some members of the print and digital media were intended for the sole purpose of causing harm to the FIA and its leadership, particularly the president.” It accused those who raised the allegations against him of acting “for their own self-interest.”

“We will recommend that the FIA initiate legal action against those who, without cause, slander the FIA and its leadership,” it added.

The letter was signed by clubs and federations representing Colombia, Canada, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, Guatemala, Uruguay, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Chile, Belize, Paraguay, Honduras, Argentina, El Salvador, Bolivia, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica, Guyana, Antigua and Trinidad and Tobago. Fabiana Ecclestone, the FIA’s vice-president of sports for South America and wife of former Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, is also among its signatories.

Letter from FIA Member Clubs and Sport Federations of the Americas

FIA Member Clubs and Sport Federations of America express:

That the FIA Ethics Committee, composed of external and independent members, has unanimously issued the report, in which they declare Mr. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, is absolved of the unfounded accusations of interfering in the Formula 1 events held in Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas, in 2023.

That the resolution of the Ethics Committee ratifies that the President of the FIA, Mr. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, acted honourably, transparently and independently.

That accusations of impropriety and unethical practices propagated by some members of the print and digital media were intended for the sole purpose of causing harm to the FIA and its leadership, particularly the President.

That…